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 1984).
My Musings – Just what was it that they did, that did not “honor [God] as holy in the sight of the Israelites?”
Context – “Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. They quarreled with Moses and said, ‘If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this desert [of Zin], that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!'” (Numbers 20:2-5, NIV 1984).
What God Said to Moses and Aaron – “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.” (Numbers 20:8, NIV 1984).
What Moses and Aaron Did – “So, Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him. He 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?’ Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.” (Numbers 20:9-11, NIV 1984).
Semitic Semantics – The result was the same. “The community and their livestock drank.” But God said, “speak to that rock,” whereas Moses “struck the rock twice with his staff.” Not a big deal, right? After all, this situation had occurred once before, and God said to strike the rock. “They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. So, they quarreled with Moses and said, ‘Give us water to drink.’ [Then God said], ‘take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile and go. I 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.'” (Exodus 17:1-2, 5, NIV 1984). You say po-ta-to, I say po-tah-to.
Why it Mattered – God expects us to follow His word precisely. “Be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left.” (Deuteronomy 5:32, NIV 1984). But there was more to it than that. The first instance of striking the rock (at Rephidim) and the command to speak to the rock (in the desert of Zin), was to demonstrate God’s lovingly providing for His people. Moses did not act in love (“listen, you rebels“) and drew the attention and glory away from God to himself (“must we bring you water).
My Advice – “[One] must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21-22, NIV 1984).
Likewise, it is not for us to pick and choose whatever interpretation of Scripture suits our fancy. Or, under what circumstances or situation Scripture should be interpreted one way and under what circumstances or situation it should be interpreted another way. We must allow the Holy Spirit to help us discern the intended and proper interpretation for all circumstances and situations.
Finally, “do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15, NIV 1984).
The Brew Is A Musing 