20-21 | n u m b e r s

posted in: Devotional | 0

Main Point: God still uses Moses greatly after a huge mess up.

In these chapters, the story of Moses striking the rock takes place. What happens right before that, though, is that Moses’ sister, Miriam dies. She has just died and the people of Israel complain that there is no water or food because they hate the manna and they wish they would have died earlier when God had more of them killed. This had to have made Moses furious. His own sister just died and now these ungrateful people that Moses is trying to lead despite his heartache, wish they had been killed by God. God tells Moses to speak to the rock, however he hits it and the problems keep coming after that. First of all, God tells him he is not allowed to enter the promised land. That is huge. What Moses had been living for, he would not get to experience. Then, Moses tries to continue on and tries to lead them through Edom, but they get bullied by Edom and they are not allowed to pass through. Then God tells Moses another consequence for hitting the rock is that his brother Aaron cannot enter the promised land either and must die very shortly, and he does. Then, a Canaanite king, Arad, comes and fights against Israel taking some of them prisoners. However, they asked for God’s help and were able to destroy Arad’s cities. Then they leave there and go back towards Edom which distresses them. Then they complained more and God sent poisonous snakes to bit and kill them. And in spite of Moses’ failures which he has seen consequence after consequence of, Moses still went to God for help on behalf of these people and God used him to save them. 1) God should not have helped Moses, in a logical human mindset. Moses disobeyed and hurt His name and glory. Moses should have been destroyed or at least never been given another opportunity to do anything great. However, God is a God of grace and He uses Moses despite His failures. 2) Moses should not have even thought to go to God. Some of his own people are dead because of his leadership. His brother is dead because of his mistake. His plans haven’t come through, the people have been bullied and taken prisoner. He should have given up in a logical human mindset. However, He knew God. He went to God and in His mercy and love, God saved Israel through Moses’ leadership. God used Moses to point the people back to Him and that is the greatest leadership anyone can do.

Realize that God can use me despite my shortcomings and failures. Do not let me failures define who I can be for God. It is the greatest honor to lead people to God, to spend my life pointing others to Him. Despite how I, myself, have turned away from Him before, He can still use me to point others to Him. He is so gracious and good.

The grace of God is shown here. How God’s love and favor are not merited by our righteous acts. Salvation came to me because of God’s grace and mercy alone, not by the good works I could bring to the table. In spite of my failures, God gives grace and love and power.

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