MOSES SERMON SERIES: PART 24

Moses failed, but God redeemed his failure

Numbers 20: 2-13

2 Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. 3 They quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! 4 Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? 5 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!”

6 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. 7 The Lord said to Moses, 8 “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.”

9 So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him. 10 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?” 11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.

12 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.”

13 These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the Lord and where he was proved holy among them.

Moses disobeyed God, by striking the rock instead of speaking to the rock.

Exodus 33:11

The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.

Deuteronomy 34:10

Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.

God’s commandment to Moses was very clear and there was no ambiguity.

1 Samuel 15:22

To obey is better than sacrifice

God expects obedience from his children.

Luke 12:48

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

 Moses had received much, and much was expected.

“I will be with you” (Exodus 3:12). God said this to Moses

“Just as I was with Moses, I will be with you” (Joshua 1:5). God said this to Joshua 

“I will be with you” (Judges 6:16). God said this to Gideon

“Do not fear, for I am with you”. (Isaiah 41:10). God said thai to Isaiah

“I am with you” (Jeremiah 1:7). God said this to Jeremiah

“Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20)

God is with us and that is our strength.

James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

If there is anything good in our life, if we ever had anything good, it was given to us by God.

1 Peter 5:6 

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.

God expects a humble heart in us.

1 Corinthians 10:4

..that rock was Christ.

The rock represented Jesus, and Jesus was to be struck only once on the cross.

Romans 11:29

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

God does not take back his gifts.

Romans 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

RESPONSE

Let us examine our heart. Are we hiding sin in our life? Let us repent.

Is the enemy tormenting us with memories of a past failure? Let us trust God for the blood of Jesus that has blotted our sins. Let us receive his forgiveness, and walk in freedom.