Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
“The Lord was angry with me because of you, and he solemnly swore that I would not cross the Jordan and enter the good land the Lord your God is giving you as your inheritance. I will die in this land; I will not cross the Jordan; but you are about to cross over and take possession of that good land.” Deuteronomy 4:21-22
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks are to God.
Have you ever been around someone who never would admit they were wrong, even when it was obvious they were? Or have you ever been around someone who would always blame someone else for everything when they were the real problem? Maybe you have. Or maybe you have been that person at one time or another. Frankly, I think there has been a time when we have done both if we’re really honest with ourselves...or more importantly, honest with God.
In today’s scripture passage, we see a classic example of someone passing the blame for something they did onto another. But this wasn’t just any someone. We see that this is Moses…the esteemed leader of the Israelites…the One chosen by God to lead His people from Israel to the Holy Land…the One who God held in high enough esteem that He passed on all His commandments and guidance to Israel through him. Yet despite all this, one truth remained: Moses was a sinner…just like you and I.
We see in the first verse where Moses fails to take responsibility for what happened to him. For it wasn’t the people that angered God enough to take away his right to enter Canaan. It was Moses’ actions alone that led to it. Recall these words from the Numbers:
“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.
But 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 20:9-12
Moses and Aaron has gathered the assembly together at which time Moses called the people “rebels” and asked if he and Aaron must bring water out of the rock. The people had been complaining about thirst and Moses was about to bring water from the rock but not by his power but rather by God’s. This is what got Moses and Aaron in trouble. All Moses had to do is say, “Does God have to bring water from this rock before you’ll believe and be faithful?” But he didn’t say that. Instead, He made it sound as if it was by his power and Aaron’s that the water would flow. This is why the Lord said that Moses hadn’t trusted Him to honor Him in the sight of Israel. For when Moses brought water from the rock, the people would praise him and give him the glory for providing for their needs when it was God all along.
Question: How often have you taken credit for doing things when you should have given God all the glory, honor and praise?
Friends, we serve an awesome God who does miraculous, powerful works and miracles every day. His power and glory are revealed in the things we most take for granted in life. He and only He is worthy of all our praise so let us mimic the words of the Psalmist who wrote:
Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.
Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.
Remember the wonders he has done. Psalm 105:1-5
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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