Scripture Reading Numbers 20:2-13
The Waters of Meribah. Now there was no water for the congregation. And they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. 3 And the people quarreled with Moses and said, "Would that we had perished when our brothers perished before the LORD! 4Why have you brought the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we should die here, both we and our cattle? 5And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink."
6Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. And the glory of the LORD appeared to them, 7and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 8"Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle."
9And Moses took the staff from before the LORD, as he commanded him.
Moses Strikes the Rock
10Then 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?" 11And 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.
12And 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."
13These are the waters of Meribah, where the people of Israel quarreled with the LORD, and through them he showed himself holy.
Thought for the Day
I read this passage and I was confused why Moses was so faithful to do everything exactly as God told him, but not on this one task. Moses disobeyed God's commands and took matters into his own hands. Why?
Did he lack faith that God would come through yet again? Maybe he did not hear God this time, he was getting older? As I thought about this, Moses' main "Miracle Connection" was his staff, he and God turned it into a snake, Moses and God parted the Red Sea with it, he and God turned water into blood with it. I believe that Moses' staff was becoming a crutch, maybe he was starting to rely on it, instead of God alone? Maybe God knew that "The staff" was starting to get in the way, so God told Moses to speak to the rock instead of using the staff.
Can't you see Moses in front of the entire angry, grumbling assembly? Standing there sweating, knowing what God told him, but questioning if it was going to work without his trusty staff. He thinks about it for a minute, then in a split second decision, he grabs the staff and not only hits it once, but twice just to make sure. God being the amazing person that He is, stands by Moses and creates water, but after it is over with, God punishes Him and the community.
Do you have your own "Staff"? Something if God told you to get rid of it, you could not do? Something that is sharing the platform with God? God needs us to rely on Him alone. Our faith in God must be strong, even if we were to lose our Bibles, our faith would not be shaken, because God is the most important thing in your life.
Closing Prayer
My Heavenly Father,You are my staff, and I am so thankful for that Lord. Please help me to remember that You are always there for me and that I can always lean on You and not the world. Father thank You for the fresh air we breathe each day and the people You put into my life each day, I just pray that You will hep me to see why You put them there and what I am to do. You are my life, thank You!! I love You!!
In Your Name I pray, Amen
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