Poignant statement: If you are patient in one moment of anger then you will escape hundred days of sorrows.
Subject: Speak not Strike
Scripture: Number 20:1-13, Deut: 34:1-8
May I request you to read the scripture portion quoted above before you read this devotional? Moses was a reluctant leader right from the beginning but God had encouraged him to lead the people of Israel. There were more than 600000 men who came out of Egypt. Some say including women and children there could be over 2.5 million Israelis who came out of Egypt and that is a huge number of people in any generation. All of them had seen great miracles of God in Egypt and now they were in the wilderness. Most of the first generation had already died in the wilderness and now the second generation was getting ready to go to the Promised Land. While in this place called Desert of Zin, the people complained as there was no water and this whining had become a habit for the people of Israel. God told Moses to speak to the rock so that the water would come out of water but in great anger and frustratraion he does not speak but yells at the people and strikes the rock twice with his miracle making rod. This angers God and he is told that because of his disobedience he can see the Promised Land at a distance but will not be able to go there.
We as leaders face real frustration. We are do all we can yet the people neither have appreciation or sympathy of what we do and we begin to be really aggravated. It is normal to be frustrated but then as spiritual leaders we need to watch out least we forget the command of God and make a wrong move. I have found out in my own life that when I am aggravated, I tend to make great and totally avoidable mistakes. I loose my cool and see things out of proportion. I become plain and simple idiot.
We make wrong move when we are worn out in ministry. We have so much to do for the Lord that we are a spiritually fatigued lot. On the other hand we think we are really doing God’s work when we zoom around and do many things and get busy in the work of the Lord. Moses was around 120 years old and at this age too he was working hard to lead the people of God as sincerely as he could but it is highly possible that he was really worn out. Beloved, do not feel guilty when your calendar is not fully red with appointments. God wants us to work hard but equally He expects us to take rest as well. Jesus told His disciples “Come and rest awhile” as there were so many people coming and going.
Look what Moses says in anger. He says “Listen you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” Did God tell him that he had to supply the water himself? Think of many times in your life especially if you are Christian leaders and you have so many people under your care. You have to make sure that all the staff has salaries at the end of the month, all the children in the Homes are fed, clothed and educated and the church must have all the money needed to minister. There is no money or personnel and you are upset and do not know what to do. In such a situation instead of ‘speaking gently’ we ‘strike ferociously’ and imagine as if the Lord does not know and that it is your work and you alone can and are responsible. Those of us who depend on affluent nations to help us financially have been going through cash crunch and they are already talking about cutting down sending money for the cause of the Gospel. Some of us will be hard hit and in panic instead of calmly relying on God we may just lose our cool. Let us rely on God to supply our needs and calmly wait for the provision of God. Yes we need to plan to make sure that we meet all emergency but we must also realize that the people whom serve are His people and He is capable of looking after them and in due time He will supply all our needs.
Moses was known to be the most humble man on the face of the earth but at a critical time he too lost his cool. This story also illustrates that best of men when vexed in the spirit do things that are displeasing to the Lord and even the people. It is important not to lose cool when we are aggravated by a group of ungrateful people. It is hard and I know by many experiences as a Christian worker and a pastor for over 30 years. The ones you bring to the Lord, feed them God’s Word and meet their physical needs, at times turn against us and we are hurt, angry and overreact. We must train as the years go by to restrain ourselves. It takes years to control our anger but we must consistently train and alert ourselves to control our passion when angry.
When I read the punishment God gave to Moses I was not happy at all. I know what Moses did was not the wisest thing but why did God punish him so severely. I believe that each punishment will have to be in accordance to the crime committed. Moses was dreaming of going to the Promised Land and breathing his last there. He had been a great leader and now his dream of going and living in the Promised Land was shattered. To us God seemed to be unfair and even cruel. One writer writes and says
“What did Moses do that warranted such a severe penalty from the Lord? First, Moses disobeyed a direct command from God. God had commanded Moses to speak to the rock. Instead, Moses struck the rock with his staff. Second, Moses took the credit for bringing forth the water. Notice how in verse 10 Moses said, “must we (referring to Moses and Aaron) bring you water out of this rock.” Moses took credit for the miracle himself, instead of attributing it to God. Third, Moses did this in front of all the Israelites. Such a public example of direct disobedience could not go unpunished. Moses’ punishment was that he would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land” (Numbers 20:12).
Beloved, this lesson teaches a serious lesson for us and we will neglect this lesson to our own peril. The lesson is this that just because we are a great leader and have obeyed God all our life does not mean that he will look the other way when we publicly and deliberately disobey God. Our valiant battle of faith and zealous service for God does not mean that we are immune from punishment when God’s express will is violated. It is a solemn warning for us.
But the consolation for Moses was this that God would show Moses the land of promise. One of the most beautiful things the Bible records is that Moses had a beautiful death or I would say passage from this world. God called him from among the people on top of the mountain and in the arms of God, Moses breathed his last breath. Just imagine dying in the hand of the most loving and holy God. He did not die among the complaining crowd but in the serenity of God’s presence.
Let us remember that it is better to listen to God attentively and follow His instruction in minute detail. In the Bible our God is portrayed as the most loving God but we must not forget that He is equally the God of justice. He will never love us less but He will also not give up His justice. I am glad to know that He has these two equally complementing qualities. I need to love God deeply and also to obey Him fully and then only we will experience the fullness of God in our life and service full of joy.
Poignant statement: If you are patient in one moment of anger then you will escape hundred days of sorrows.
Prayer:
Lord, we are so vulnerable to temptation and disobedience. Help us to attentively hear your voice and obey fully. As we have needy people around us, help us to bring all needs to you as these are your people and you know and you are capable of supplying the needs of the people.
Republished in new layout on 8/20/2013
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