During my devotional reading recently, the Holy Spirit finally revealed the reason moses was prevented from entering the promise land. I wasn’t the brightest student in Sunday school, so it’s no surprise it took me longer than most to figure it out. For me, the Bible wasn’t crystal clear on the reason. I was blind to the facts, but now I see.
Maybe you missed the reason as well. If so, it will be transparent by the end of this article. Matter of fact, if the title doesn’t give it away, I’ll make it plain. Moses wasn’t permitted to enter the promise land because he disobeyed God’s word. The question you should be asking is how did he disobey God? Glad you asked. Let’s dive in!
The Story
The story takes place in Numbers Chapter 20.
Years after Moses led the children of Israel out Egypt, they found themselves in the wilderness of Zin. While there, the children of Israel started complaining they had no water to drink. Their complaint is interesting because they had God which was their living water. Jesus echoed this in John 4:13-14 saying, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again.” They had all they needed, they just needed to tap in.
Let us not judge the Israelites because we imitate the same behavior at times. We often complain about our lack resources instead of focusing on the surplus, which is the Almighty God! He will provide all we need and more.
Not Obeying God
Moses was so disturbed by the Israelites complaint; he went and fell face down in the tabernacle. Understand these same people complained earlier about not having any meat to eat, and not being able to conquer a land the Lord promised. Moses was at his wits end with all their complaining.
Fortunate for Moses, the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to him while he was in the tabernacle. The Lord told him to take his staff and get everyone together. As everyone watch, speak to a rock and water will pour out of it. We overlook the significance of the rock, but it has a specific meaning. God could have chose anything to get water from, but he chose a rock. See why below:
- Jacob called the Lord “Rock of Israel” in Genesis 49.
- Moses said God is “The Rock” in Deuteronomy 32.
- Isaiah 26:4 says, “Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.”
As you can see the “The Rock” has a significant meaning. We should be speaking to the rock daily so we can experience living water poured out for us.
After the Lord gave Moses his instructions, he spoke to the people, struck the rock twice and water poured out for the people. So where was the disobedience? Moses was obeying God with his actions, correct? Negative! God never told Moses to lecture the people. After assembling the community, Moses called them Rebels and asked, “Must we bring water from this rock?” First of all, Moses just left the tabernacle, and his first action was resort to name calling. That’s not a good representation of the Lord’s servant. He then says must “we” bring water from this rock? Who is we? Be careful and give God the glory when miracle happens. The Israelites could have mistakenly looked at Moses like God and started worshipping him. And that would have caused more problems. Only boast about what the Lord has accomplished.
Moses then struck the rock twice with his staff and water poured out. If you go back and reread God’s instructions, he never told Moses to strike the rock. He told him to speak to the rock. If Moses would have obeyed God’s command the children of Israel would have seen God’s majesty on full display. We have to be obedience to the word of God and not add our own flavor to it.
In the end, disobeying God is what prohibited Moses from entering the promise land. Let’s make sure we follow God’s word precisely so we can experience God’s Grace and Mercy and occupy the promise land!
Prayer
Lord, Thank You for being a Great God. We know that obedience to Your word is paramount for us making it to the promise land. Help us to have a mind that seeks and obey your word. And Lord, we will continue to give you all the glory and all the praise. In your son Jesus name. Amen.