Pure Glory

by Hazel Straub

The children of Israel had wandered in the wilderness for about 38 years and were thirsty because they had no water to drink. They bitterly complained, so Moses and Aaron sought God’s counsel. God told Moses to speak to the rock and water would spring from it. Instead Moses used his staff to strike the rock twice bringing forth water, calling the people rebels and taking the credit for the water.

Instead of the power of the spoken word being demonstrated, the people associated the water with the wooden stick that Moses used and not speech that agrees with God, producing a miracle of supply. God’s glory and honor went to Moses and Aaron, so God was not respected before the people. Additionally, speech that agrees with God, requires more trust and faith, rather than using an object such as a stick that people could worship or view as magic. Moses and Aaron disobeyed God, causing them to not enter the Promised Land.

Our speech reveals our mindset and our heart. Out of our mouth proceeds either life or death that flows from our heart. It shows either obedience or rebellion to God, as our voice affects the lives of many. May your tongue bring blessing and life, honoring God.

Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. They quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the LORD! Why did you bring the LORD’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!” 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.” These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD and where he was proved holy among them. (Numbers 20:2-13 NIV)

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