Disobedience Brings Consequence

Numbers 20:2-13

This is probably one of the best known stories of the Old Testament. Moses' failure. It is so disheartening. However, after studying it, I believe that there may be as much for us to learn in Moses' failure as there was in his successes.

First of all, it seems unfair that after all Moses had been through with the grumbling, complaining Israelites, that he would not get to see the promised land. We can easily sympathize with his anger toward the people. We can easily sympathize with the way he spoke to them. Unfortunately, human emotion is not an excuse for sin. And God's leaders do not have the luxury of losing their tempers with others.

Moses' sin is actually multifaceted. First and foremost, he disobeyed God. He didn't follow God's instructions. Moses did not believe God in this circumstance. Moses had seen the very glory of God, yet here he did not believe Him. Secondly, Moses took some of the glory for the miracle for himself and for Aaron. Moses says, "must we" bring water out of this rock making it seem as if they were responsible for the miracle as opposed to God. Thirdly, Moses spoke to the people harshly instead of speaking too the rock. And last but not least, Moses struck the rock twice instead of doing what God had said. Any of these points are sinful, but add them all up and they equal a significant failure on Moses' part.

It is important to see through this example that a whole lifetime of service can be ruined by one sinful act. If it does not ruin a life, it is not because it shouldn't, but only because of God's grace. The fact that Moses had to suffer the consequences of his actions should serve as a warning for us.

Is there an area in your life where you are disobeying God, yet you believe that you deserve a pass because of all the other things you are doing right? This is not how God works. He does not weigh the good against the bad. Ask God to help you totally submit to Him and His ways today.