God Will Supply Our Needs

This story isn’t about water, it’s about trusting God. Moses and Aaron suffered the consequences because of their lack of trust.

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After all time the Israelites spent in the wilderness totally dependent on God, they were still murmuring and complaining. This time they complained about being thirsty. The simple truth is, God will always supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory.

Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock. “Listen, you rebels!” he shouted. “Must we bring you water from this rock?” Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill.”    Numbers 20:10-11 NLT

This is an interesting event that happened just about 40 years after Israel’s release from captivity. You would have thought at this point, they would have stopped complaining. Listen to what Moses said to them.

For forty years I led you through the wilderness, yet your clothes and sandals did not wear out. You ate no bread and drank no wine or other alcoholic drink, but he provided for you so you would know that he is the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 29:5-6

Their complaints though were directly aimed at Moses. It would have been the same as a church congregation making accusations against their pastor.

The people blamed Moses and said, . . . Why have you brought the congregation of the Lord’s people into this wilderness to die, along with all our livestock?Numbers 20:3-4

 

Anger Can Easily Distract Us

In an earlier chapter, the Lord said Moses was the meekest person on the face of the earth. Even at that, these people put Moses in a defensive posture. In reading the next verse you can hear the anger in his response.

Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock. “Listen, you rebels!” he shouted. “Must we bring you water from this rock?”  Numbers 20:10

Moses made two vital mistakes which were probably brought on by his anger. The first one was indicated in the prior verse. “Must we,” meaning he and Aaron, bring the water from the rock?  He took God out of the equation altogether.

The second error Moses made came when he struck the rock. He was supposed to speak to the rock.

Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff . . .  Numbers 20:10-11

So let’s review what had happened so far in this story. The people rebelled (again, I might add). Moses was taking the credit for the water supply. And Moses disobeyed God by hitting the rock instead of speaking to it.

One might ask, why did the Lord even bother to supply them with water? The answer is simple, God will always meet our needs.

This story isn’t about water, it’s about trusting God. Moses and Aaron suffered the consequences because of their lack of trust.

But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!” Numbers 20:12

 

Remember God Will Supply Our Needs

We can consider ourselves standing before the entrance of the promised land. Ours is called heaven. God has given us the Rock whose name is Jesus. He has supplied us with Living Water through His Spirit.

Remember the simple truth is, God will supply our needs. So, don’t let others cause you to misplace your trust in God as Moses did.

Fortunately, Moses had to have repented. How do we know? Because he visited with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration.

Do you need to repent? Lord, our goal is to be with you for all eternity. Therefore, forgive us for our times of disobedience and rebellion towards you.

 

Take time to read the chapter of Numbers 20.

 

 

This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Christian Perspectives

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