A HIGH PRICE TO PAY

1. Introduction

a) It has been 37 years since Israel's first spy mission into the Promised Land (Numbers 13, 14) and 40 years since the Exodus from Egypt. The Bible is virtually silent about those 37 years of aimless wandering.

b) The generation of those who had lived in Egypt had almost died off, and the new generation would soon be ready to enter the land. Moses, Aaron, Joshua and Caleb we among the few who remained from those who had left Egypt.

c) Once again they camped at Kadesh, the site of the first spy mission that had ended in disaster. Moses hoped the people were ready for a fresh start.

d) After 37 years in the wilderness, the Israelites forgot that their wandering were a result of their parents' and their own sins. There was not enough water and the people complained bitterly.

e) The Lord had told Moses to speak to the rock; however, Moses struck it, not once, but twice. God was the one who did the miracle; yet Moses was taking credit for it when he said, "Must we bring water for you out of this rock?"

i) 7The Lord said to Moses, 8"Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink." 9So Moses took the staff from the Lord's presence, just as he commanded him. 10He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, "Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?" 11Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. 12But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them." (Numbers 20:7-12 NIV)

2. What was the price Moses had to pay for not following as instructed?

a) 12But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them." (Numbers 20:12 NIV)

@1 Highlights:

i) The Lord had said to speak to the rock but Moses struck it, not once but twice.

ii) By his action, the Lord said that Moses did not believe him i.e. to speak to the rock for water to come out.

iii) Maybe, Moses was quite comfortable with his old way i.e. to strike than speak because he had previous experience of striking and the water came out. Perhaps, he wanted to play safe.

@1. 1The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2So they quarreled with Moses and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses replied, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?" 3But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?" 4Then Moses cried out to the Lord, "What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me." 5The Lord answered Moses, "Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink." So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, "Is the Lord among us or not?" (Exodus 17:1-7 NIV)

iv) By his action, Moses did not truly sanctify the Lord in the eyes of the children of Israel.

v) Hence, Moses was forbidden to enter the Promised Land.

vi) Also, Moses was taking credit for himself when he said, "Must we bring water for you out of this rock?" (Numbers 20: 10 NIV)

vii) However, Moses was given an opportunity to have a glimpse of the Promised Land but did have the chance to enter.

@1. 12Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go up this mountain in the Abarim Range and see the land I have given the Israelites. 13After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was, 14for when the community rebelled at the waters in the Desert of Zin, both of you disobeyed my command to honor me as holy before their eyes." (These were the waters of Meribah Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin.) (Numbers 27:12-14 NIV)

viii) Oh! What a high price to pay for Moses to pay for having his own way just because of anger!

3. Prayer focus

a) Pray that we will not fall like Moses did.

b) Pray that when the Lord speaks we will believe, follow and act upon what he has instructed us to do all the way to the minute details.