The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Numbers 20:13,
"These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the Lord and where he was proved holy among them."
About 40 years after Korah's rebellion, the people of Israel began to oppose Moses and Aaron again when there was no water for the community. In Numbers 16 we read that Korah, Dathan and Abiram and others rose up against the leadership of Moses and Aaron, God's chosen leaders. It did not end well for those rebels then, when the earth split apart and "swallowed them", Numbers 16:31-34. Now, some 40 years later a new generation tried its hand at rebellion.
This time it was Moses and Aaron who received the judgment of God when Moses disobeyed God. God had told Moses to speak to a rock in front of the assembly and then he would cause water to gush out of it to provide water. Instead Moses struck the rock twice with the staff. Water gushed out but the Lord told Moses and Aaron they would not be allowed to enter the promised land, just as the generation that rebelled 40 years prior were not allowed to enter into the promised land.
We might speculate why the Lord punished Moses so harshly. Perhaps a wavering of trust as seen in verse 12, "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." Possibly that was expressed as Moses disobeyed God. God told Moses to speak to the rock. Instead, Moses spoke to the people and struck the rock, verses 10-11.
In any event, God demonstrated the nature of his justice and holiness by not compromising or showing favoritism to his chosen leaders. All stand before God's righteousness, holiness and justice equally.
I sense there have been some in our day who have taken God's righteousness, holiness and justice towards them somewhat lightly due to their service to him, or their perceived "success" in ministry, as if God might owe them a bit of deference. In this passage we see otherwise, "These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the Lord and where he was proved holy among them." Verse 13.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the Lord and where he was proved holy among them."
About 40 years after Korah's rebellion, the people of Israel began to oppose Moses and Aaron again when there was no water for the community. In Numbers 16 we read that Korah, Dathan and Abiram and others rose up against the leadership of Moses and Aaron, God's chosen leaders. It did not end well for those rebels then, when the earth split apart and "swallowed them", Numbers 16:31-34. Now, some 40 years later a new generation tried its hand at rebellion.
This time it was Moses and Aaron who received the judgment of God when Moses disobeyed God. God had told Moses to speak to a rock in front of the assembly and then he would cause water to gush out of it to provide water. Instead Moses struck the rock twice with the staff. Water gushed out but the Lord told Moses and Aaron they would not be allowed to enter the promised land, just as the generation that rebelled 40 years prior were not allowed to enter into the promised land.
We might speculate why the Lord punished Moses so harshly. Perhaps a wavering of trust as seen in verse 12, "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." Possibly that was expressed as Moses disobeyed God. God told Moses to speak to the rock. Instead, Moses spoke to the people and struck the rock, verses 10-11.
In any event, God demonstrated the nature of his justice and holiness by not compromising or showing favoritism to his chosen leaders. All stand before God's righteousness, holiness and justice equally.
I sense there have been some in our day who have taken God's righteousness, holiness and justice towards them somewhat lightly due to their service to him, or their perceived "success" in ministry, as if God might owe them a bit of deference. In this passage we see otherwise, "These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the Lord and where he was proved holy among them." Verse 13.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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