The children of Israel faced many challenges on their way to the promised land. They murmured, they rebelled and many fell in the wilderness. They were a difficult people to love! Nothing that was done was enough for these people, they almost made God change His mind about them being God’s special people – Exodus 32:10 Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.” .
At a point in the desert of Zin Miriam died and of course they mourned for her and then ran out of water. Oh! How Israel forgot all the wonders, signs and miracles God had wrought in their midst. They complained and murmured as usual against Moses and Aaron blaming them for all the woes that have befallen them. Then ……
Numbers 20:6 Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell face down, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them.7 The Lord said to Moses,
The Lord saw the sorrow in the heart of Moses and Aaron and before they could utter a word in prayer God spoke to them just as He promised in Isaiah 65:24 Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. Well, you may be wondering why God did not provide solution to the water crisis in the camp according to Isaiah 65! Israel did not ask, they did not speak to God, they were instead murmuring and blaming Moses and Aaron just like you and I does. Instead of talking to God about our situation, asking Him for solution, we ask why we are in the situation we are in, why us we ask very often. Why not us?
However, what I want to point out is Moses and Aaron’s action. Remember before they spoke, the Lord answered them for their action spoke and the Lord saw their heart. Well, they had to “rob” it into the Israelite who got it wrong, whose action was contrary to the will of God. Moses and Aaron having been favored, in their obedience to the ways of God reacted untowardly to the Israelite, calling out their errors. In the process Moses struck the rock contrary to the commandment of God and this displeased God, causing both Moses and Aaron entering the promised land.
Friends, to whom much is given, much is expected! You have been forgiven much, favored much, for before you asked you received what others in much toiling and murmuring have not been able to receive. Don’t you think you should be gentle and empathetic? Do you have to call them out? Rob it in? Take a cue from Moses and Aaron and be careful with “Israel”, whatever Israel means to you. Do not forget to honor the Lord’s sacrifice for the life of His people. Every saint, every being is important to the Lord and as such we must be cautious how we represent our Savior Jesus Christ before them. Children comes to my mind here! Our children are watching us honoring God or not. Which will it be? Children here could be physical or spiritual – young ones, unbelievers, babes in the things of the Kingdom.
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 Israelite, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.” – Numbers 20:12.
Father Lord Almighty, have mercy on us and forgive us of all unrighteousness. Please show us the errors of our ways and redirect us to your ways, the path of righteousness. Create a right spirit within us and rekindle your fire within. May we not be stripped of the glorious future you have ordained for us. May we not stumble naked through life. Clothe us Lord with your righteousness as with a garment that your glory may shine in and through us to the uttermost in Jesus Christ mighty name we pray. Amen
Shalom! Shalom! Shalom!
Radiant Glory Of Love 