Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” These are the waters of Meribah, where the people of Israel quarreled with the LORD, and through them he showed himself holy. (Numb 20:10-13)
Numbers 20 continues to hold valuable lessons from one of Moses’ darker days.
- Someone else may make me mad, but that doesn’t give me license to sin.
- Past victories over temptation don’t excuse future sins.
- Details matter to God.
- Positive physical results don’t mean that God is pleased with me.
- God’s word must be properly applied.
- Sorrow and repentance won’t always remove the consequences of our actions.
- We are all in desperate need of God’s grace and mercy.
This sermon was delivered in the evening assembly of the Laurel Canyon church, February 5, 2012.