DANGER IN DISOBEYING GOD’S EXPRESS WORD OF POWER.

Numbers 20:1-13; 27:12-23; Deut. 1:37; 3:23-26; 4:21; 32:51-52; Isaiah 55:8-11; Mat.24:35 (Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33).

Many Christians are in the habit of only talking about the Love of God, the Forgiveness of God, the Forbearance of God, the Longsuffering of God and the Mercy of God. Very little is usually said about the burning anger of the Lord or the severity of His judgement. While all of these attributes are available to all as we are witnesses, God can also burn with hot anger, hot displeasure. He can be severe when His express word is disobeyed! Our God is also a Consuming Fire! But all His judgements are righteous.

The story we are reading today must bring us to sober reflection. Far be it from me that I should speak against the man of God Moses. Rather what we will learn from this story is to take every word of God very seriously, never adding nor removing from it. We learn that obeying the Word of God brings great blessings!

THE CV OF MOSES

It will take many books to study the life of Moses. Moses was a man chosen by God from his mother’s womb. He was supernaturally preserved from the murderous intentions of Pharaoh King of Egypt. God ensured that he was brought up in the palace of Pharaoh. He would have remained there till the time of his ministry but was banished when it was discovered that he was protecting Hebrew slaves (Exod.2:11-15). Moses spent the next forty years in Midian till God’s time of deliverance of Israel came. He went back to Egypt on God’s command to demand that Pharaoh should free the children of Israel. God started by appearing to him in the burning bush. He spoke to him regularly till he brought the children of Israel out of Egypt. He would go away to the presence of God and spend forty days and forty nights on the mountain with God, receiving His Laws.

Moses was described as faithful in all his house (Heb.3:2). He was also known as a very meek man (Num.12: 3). Moses was a man who did God’s will, who sought the glory of God in all he did (Exod.32:9-14, 31-35). These virtues are similar to the ones Christians are commanded to have today. When God spoke to Moses, He did not do it by visions or dreams as He did with prophets. He spoke to Moses face to face (Num.12:6-8).  Anyone who spoke against Moses was judged by God. Korah Dathan and Abiram were judged (Num.16:1-3, 28-31). Miriam the prophetess was judged (Num.12:1-3, 9-10).

What lessons can we learn from the life of Moses?

§  Personal Relationship with God.

§  Fear of God. Boldness for God.

§  Refusing friendship of the world and all its allurements (1John 2:15-17).

§  A great leader seeking for God’s glory and not his own (Exod. 32:9-14; Heb.11:24-27).

§  Defending God’s people.

§  Advocating for and protecting God’s people. Preserving God’s Word and His Commandments.

§  Never seeking to revenge perceived wrongs done to him.

§  Letting God fight for us.

§  Faithfulness in God’s service (1Cor.4:2).

The meekness of Moses was well known (Num.12:3; Mat.5:5; 1Tim.6:11).

THE ERROR OF MOSES.

Numbers 20:1-13; Isaiah 55:8-11; Num. 27:12–14; Deut. 1:37; 3:22–26; 4:21; 32:51.

God is sovereign and all His ministers must do His bidding including the most important of them. There is no level of closeness to God that allows us to disobey his word. God’s means of communication is His word. God’s word is supreme. His word must be obeyed.

This incident happened towards the end of their Wilderness wondering, probably in the 39^th year, because in the 40^th year of their wondering, Aaron Died at Mount Hur (Num.33:39).

In this command God told Moses to speak to the rock so that water would come forth for Israel. He was to speak to the Rock, not to the people of Israel. The error of Moses was three fold:

(i)                He spoke evil of God’s people in his anger. He was angry because they were always murmuring, never acknowledging the miracles of God. He was also mourning the death of Miriam

(ii)              He presumed to share in the provision of water for the people. “Must WE fetch you water out of this rock?”

(iii)            He struck the Rock in his anger when God’s command was to speak to it.

God would not share His glory, not even with Moses. It was God who supplied the needs of His people. He does not need the help of man. Water came forth. He saw the action of Moses and Aaron unbelief in His word. They failed to honour His name before all the people of Israel.

This incident changed the cause of Moses’ life. God still supplied the need of the people, but Moses and Aaron suffered the same consequence of disobedience as the rest of the people over 20 years of age when they left Egypt. The consequences were severe (Deut.34:1-5). Moses and Aaron died in the Wilderness. We have no right to ponder the severity of the punishment. The punishment may be severe in human understanding but God is the Righteous Judge.

Regardless of all the trouble taken by Moses while obeying God and leading Israel out of Egypt, the incessant murmuring of the people against a man who has done so much for them, his utter obedience in building the Tabernacle, obtaining the Ten Commandments, he was barred from entering the Promised Land.

In this punishment of Moses we see both the severity and the compassion of the Lord. Moses had served the Lord well and God appreciated it. He allowed him to climb up to Mount Pisgah in Moab and view the Promised Land and died on the Mountain and God buried him.

That was not the last we would hear of Moses. He appeared dramatically during the Transfiguration of Jesus (Mat.17:1-3).

Jesus used him in symbolizing what would happen to Him on the Cross (John 3:14)

Jesus also declared that Moses wrote of Him in the Law (Luke 24:44).

Hebrews describes him as a man of faith (Heb.11:24-29).

Redeemed people of all ages will sing the song of Moses and of the Lamb in Heaven (Rev.15:3).

Moses was a man of Faith and obedience. He served the Lord faithfully. We learn from this incident that leaders and all believers should be careful as we persevere to serve the Lord. The Lord is Holy and will not condone sin. We should never allow ourselves to be overcome by the sin of disobedience or any other form of sin. If sin comes into our lives the only safe thing to do is to repent and confess it immediately to God asking for His forgiveness.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Deut.34:1-5; Isaiah 55:8-11; Lev.26:3-12; Mat.24:35 (Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33). Deut.28:1-14.

Moses died without fulfilling his passionate desire as a result of that singular incident of disobedience.

This should furnish a great lesson to people of this age including some believers who take the word of God lightly.

(i)                In many passages of the Bible God is pictured as a Rock. In (1Cor.10:4) it tells us that the Rock that followed them was a picture of Christ. Jesus is the supplier of the Water of Life (John 4:13-14; 7:37-39). God’s word is pictured as water in (John 15:3; Eph.5:26). Though Moses was instructed many years earlier to strike the Rock (Exo.17:1-7), in this command he was instructed to speak not to strike. Christ was once crucified for us. He will not be struck a second time. God is inviting all men to come and drink this water of life which is Christ the Lord. We send out this invitation to all the world.

(ii)              God’s word is precious. He watches over His word to perform it (Jer.1:12). Disobedience carries severe consequences. Jesus declares that though heaven and earth pass away, his word would not, Mat.24:35 (Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33). The Word of God is going to be the judge of the world (John 12:48). It is wise not to disobey it, but to receive and obey it.

When we obey the Word of God, great blessings await us. The blessing of obedience will pervade all areas of our lives. God is merciful and gracious, but He also cannot condone sin.

There is the danger of eternal loss of the soul in hell if we disobey the Word of salvation brought to us by Jesus Christ (John 3:1-3). All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. All must heed the words of Jesus, repent and be saved. Anyone who disobeys this word is in danger of hell fire!

 

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                                                                   ROCK OF AGES CLEFT FOR ME

 Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save me from its guilt and power.

 

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All could never sin erase,
Thou must save, and save by grace.

 

Nothing in my hands I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress,
Helpless, look to Thee for grace:
Foul, I to the fountain fly,
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

 

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

 

THY WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET

 

Thy Word is a lamp to my feet,
A light to my path alway,
To guide and to save me from sin,
And show me the heav’nly way.

 

Thy Word have I hid in my heart,
That I might not sin against Thee;
That I might not sin, that I might not sin,
Thy Word have I hid in my heart.

 

Forever, O Lord, is Thy Word
Established and fixed on high;
Thy faithfulness unto all men
Abideth forever nigh.

 

At morning, at noon, and at night
I ever will give Thee praise;
For Thou art my portion, O Lord,
And shall be through all my days!

 

Thro’ Him whom Thy Word hath foretold,
The Savior and Morning Star,
Salvation and peace have been brought
To those who have strayed afar.

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