“But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!’”
Numbers 20:12
The children of Israel had once again complained, God gave Moses specific directions, and he obeyed…almost. Moses took the staff and assembled the people, but instead of calmly speaking to the rock, he struck the rock and angrily shouted at the people!
Perhaps Moses missed a key phrase in God’s instructions, “…as the people watch, speak to the rock…” His responsibility that day was to demonstrate GOD to the people watching. However, instead of demonstrating GOD’s character, he demonstrated his own! The people watched anger and lack of respect for a holy God. In fact, later God said Moses had betrayed Him that day…he misrepresented how GOD acts!
God told Moses, “…you did not trust ME enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people.” God had instructed Moses to take the rod, not to trust the rod. Even though God had worked many miracles through that rod, God did not want Moses to trust in the rod or in a method. Moses needed to trust in GOD.
I wonder about myself…have I been trusting in rods that worked in the past, and do I keep waiting for God to do things the same way as He did before? God simply wants me to trust HIM. Only then will my actions today truly demonstrate His actions…as the people around me watch.
