DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY

A Response to "Doing It the Right Way"

The Incident at Kadesh

The people of Israel arrived in the wilderness of Zin and camped at Kadesh. But there was not enough water to drink at that place. Once again, the people complained and rebelled against Moses and Aaron. They grumbled, they quarreled, and they wished they had died with their brothers before the Lord. Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before the Lord, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. God told Moses to take the rod and speak to the rock, and it would pour out its water. But Moses, frustrated and angry, lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod. Water gushed out abundantly, and the people and their livestock drank. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe me and did not sanctify me in the eyes of the people of Israel, you shall not bring them into the land I have promised them." This was a severe judgment, and it carries powerful lessons for us today.

The Consequence of Disobedience

Because Moses did not do exactly what the Lord said to be done, he and his brother Aaron, workers in ministry, were barred from entering into the Promised Land. This is a sobering reminder that even the most faithful servants of God are not exempt from the consequences of disobedience. Moses was the greatest prophet in Israel. He had led the people out of Egypt, parted the Red Sea, received the law on Mount Sinai, and interceded for the people time and again. Yet one act of disobedience changed the course of his life. He saw the Promised Land from a distance but was not allowed to enter. His failure was not in the outcome but in the method. The water came, but the method was wrong.

The Old Ways and the New Ways

Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to the rock due to his anger, and as a result, his mistake bore consequences. Perhaps Moses was so used to his old ways—striking the rod—that he could not easily adopt the new way presented to him. Earlier in their journey, God had told Moses to strike the rock at Horeb, and water came out. Now God was giving a new instruction: speak to the rock. But Moses, conditioned by the past and driven by anger, reverted to what he knew. He struck the rock. The old way worked in the past, but it was not the way for this moment. We must be careful not to rely on past methods when God is doing something new. We must be sensitive to His leading in the present, not just His leading in the past.

The Danger of Anger

We know that anger does not make us good, as God demands that we must be. James 1:20 says that the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Moses' anger at the people's rebellion clouded his judgment. He was frustrated, weary, and fed up with their constant complaining. But his anger led him to act impulsively and disobediently. Anger is not always wrong, but it is always dangerous. It can cause us to act in ways we regret. It can lead us to speak or act in ways that dishonor God. We must guard our hearts against anger and seek to respond with humility and obedience, even when we are provoked.

The Miracle Did Not Condone the Sin

Even though Moses did the opposite of what God instructed, the miracle happened. Water gushed out from the rock, and the people and their cattle drank. The main reason for this miracle was because God saw the thirst of His people and wanted to quench them. But the miracle did not condone Moses' actions. God's grace was still extended to the people, but His discipline was still applied to Moses. This is an important lesson. God's blessings are not always a sign of approval. He may bless us even when we are wrong, but that does not mean He is pleased with our disobedience. We must not mistake His mercy for His endorsement.

Doing It the Right Way

We ought to be careful in doing the works for the Lord. We must do it in the right way. Leviticus 22:29 says, "When you offer the Lord a sacrifice of thanksgiving, you must do it in the right way." God cares not only about what we do but also about how we do it. He is not just interested in results; He is interested in obedience. Our methods matter. Our motives matter. Our attitudes matter. We cannot honor God with our actions if we dishonor Him with our hearts. We must seek to do His will in His way, not just in our way.

Final Reflection

Moses was a great man of God, but he was not a perfect man. His failure at Kadesh serves as a warning to all of us who serve the Lord. We must be careful to obey God's instructions fully, not partially. We must be sensitive to His leading in the present, not just His leading in the past. We must guard our hearts against anger and pride. And we must remember that God's blessings are not always a sign of approval. The way we do things matters to God. Let us seek to do His work in His way, so that we may honor Him and finish our race well.

Prayer for Obedience

Lord, help me to do Your work in Your way. Help me to obey Your instructions fully and not rely on past methods. Guard me from anger and pride that lead to disobedience. Help me to honor You in my actions and my attitudes. I want to do things in the right way, not just the way that is convenient or familiar. Help me to finish my race well and to please You in all I do. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.