SCRIPTURE:
“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. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.’ 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 20:6-12
OBSERVATION:
There is a popular song that Frank Sinatra would sing, “I Did It My Way.” The song is about how he did things his way in terms of his career with no regrets, despite what others might recommend and say. In the world, it’s often seen as a good thing to be individualistic and rebellious in our actions and deeds. However, with God as Moses learned, it needs to be His Way, especially when God is answering our requests and prayers. God answered Moses and directed him to take his staff and speak to the rock to pour forth water. Yet, Moses seemingly in his anger and fervor due to the people’s complaints disregarded God’s direction and struck the rock twice with his staff. God was still faithful in causing the water to pour forth. However, Moses paid the priced of not being God’s chosen leader to lead the Israelites into the promise land.
APPLICATION:
How often I’ve done the same in terms of realizing God’s answer to prayer and direction, knowing His will through His Word, yet I doing things “my way.” In retrospect, are the challenges and obstacles that I’ve encountered in situations and life been due to my disobedience in not following God’s direction to the “T?” It is so easy to let external matters with people, situations and my own carnal self cause me to do things my way; often regretting my actions and words. When reading the scripture the first time, I missed the fact that God said, “speak” and Moses instead “struck” the rock, using excessive force. Am I at times excessive in my ways because of external influences and situations, or do I use the appropriate approach and demeanor, led by the Holy Spirit? God is speaking to me through these scriptures to be careful to listen to His still voice and to be discerning so that I am living and acting by His will, prompted by the Holy Spirit rather than my carnal quick response and propensity to react. Especially as a pastor and leader, I need to know how my words and actions can influence people.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, may I be a man after your heart that is obedient and follows your direction and will, in spite of my carnal character that can surface and influence that way I respond and therefore not be a witness and testament to others according to your will. Please guide my mind, heart, speech and actions to follow according to your will and in all your ways.
