Grace In Spite of Disobedience
Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. . . . "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? . . . And there is no water to drink!"
Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them. The LORD said to Moses, "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."
. . . So, Moses took the staff from the LORD's presence, just as He commanded him. . . . 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 demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them." Numbers 20:2-12
Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them. The LORD said to Moses, "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."
. . . So, Moses took the staff from the LORD's presence, just as He commanded him. . . . 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 demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them." Numbers 20:2-12
One of the most amazing things about God is the gracious way He deals with us, even in our depravity. Shall we sin that grace may abound? No! But where sin abounds, grace abounds the more. Grace is God's unmerited favor. He gives us what we do not deserve.
God gave Moses and Aaron clear instructions: "Take the staff . . . speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water."
But poor Moses had reached his limit. Out of his frustration with all the quarrels and opposition, he struck the rock twice instead of speaking to it. This was in total violation of God's instructions. Amazingly, water still gushed out just as God had promised.
That was pure grace! God graciously provided water in spite of Moses' disobedience!
But Moses paid a hefty price for his disobedience! Moses had violated the holiness of God by taking matters into his own hands and doing things his own way. What was the price? He did not step on the Promised Land!
Following the instructions of God must never be an option for us. God will always be gracious in keeping His word for the sake of His Holy Name, but we cannot presume on His grace!
Water might gush out. But costly judgment might also gush out along with the water!
Shall we sin that grace may abound? Absolutely not. We must never take the grace of God for granted.
God gave Moses and Aaron clear instructions: "Take the staff . . . speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water."
But poor Moses had reached his limit. Out of his frustration with all the quarrels and opposition, he struck the rock twice instead of speaking to it. This was in total violation of God's instructions. Amazingly, water still gushed out just as God had promised.
That was pure grace! God graciously provided water in spite of Moses' disobedience!
But Moses paid a hefty price for his disobedience! Moses had violated the holiness of God by taking matters into his own hands and doing things his own way. What was the price? He did not step on the Promised Land!
Following the instructions of God must never be an option for us. God will always be gracious in keeping His word for the sake of His Holy Name, but we cannot presume on His grace!
Water might gush out. But costly judgment might also gush out along with the water!
Shall we sin that grace may abound? Absolutely not. We must never take the grace of God for granted.
Prayer: Father, I thank you for your gracious dealings with me, but help me not to presume on your grace because you are a holy God. Amen.