For both of you betrayed me with the Israelites at the waters of Meribah at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. You failed to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel there. So you will see the land from a distance, but you may not enter the land I am giving to the people of Israel. [Deuteronomy 32:51-52 (NLT)]
The Israelites had been away from Israel for less than two months when they arrived at Rephidim. With no water to drink, the people complained, questioned whether the Lord was with them, criticized Moses, and then threatened him. Fearing for his life, Moses asked God what to do. Instructing him to strike a rock with his staff, God promised that water would come gushing out and, as promised, it did. The miracle was memorialized by the name given to this location, Massah (meaning testing) and Meribah (meaning quarreling.) Unfortunately, that was not the last time the Israelites tested the Lord and quarreled with Moses.
While still at Rephidim, Israel was attacked by Amalekites. Joshua led the men against their foes and Moses, Aaron, and Hur watched from a hill while holding that same staff high for Israel to see. Israel was victorious that day. In acknowledgement that their victory actually belonged to God because He was the source of their strength and courage, Moses built an altar and named it Yahweh-Nissi, meaning the Lord is my banner.
Nearly forty years later, a new generation of Israelites arrived in the wilderness of Zin to camp at Kadesh. As happened at Rephidim, there was no water. Apparently forgetting that their 38 extra years of wandering were because of their and their parents’ testing and quarreling, the people rebelled against Moses and Aaron. The brothers wisely took the problem to God who again gave them specific instructions. This time, however, Moses was to take the staff, speak to the rock, and watch as the water poured out. Rather than follow God’s directions, however, Moses angrily spoke to the people, “Must we bring you water from this rock?” and then struck the rock twice with his staff. Despite his disobedience, God graciously provided water and the people drank their fill. But, because Israel quarreled again with the Lord, this place also became known as the waters of Meribah.
Because Moses and Aaron had defied a direct command from God, they were punished and neither man was allowed to enter the Promised Land. Granted, Moses was tired, frustrated, and annoyed. He’d spent a third of his life leading over two million of these “stiff-necked people” and now, with the end in sight, they again complained, protested his leadership, and doubted the Lord. Perhaps it was his frustration and anger that led him to disobey God.
On the other hand, perhaps it was his pride. Nearly forty years had passed since bringing forth water from the rock at Rephidim and Moses may have forgotten whose power brought about that miracle as well as their victory over the Amalekites. In those decades of leading the people through the wilderness, had Moses forgotten who actually provided forty years’ worth of guidance and miracles? Had he mistakenly come to think that he and his staff held the power? By saying that he and Aaron would bring the people water, Moses appears to have thought the miracle would come from him rather than God! Once in sight of the finish line, the men showed too much faith in themselves and too little faith in God.
God is quite direct when telling us what to do and how to do it. He expects us to do it His way and we break faith with Him whenever we disobey. We also break faith with Him when we fail to acknowledge His presence and power. “To God be the glory,” are not to be empty words. God told Isaiah, “I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols.” [42:8] He’s certainly not about to share it with mere mortals either!
Although Moses saw Canaan from a distance, he and Aaron missed the blessing for which they had waited forty years. We don’t want just to view the Promised Land; like Moses, we want to enter it! Let’s never forget who actually provides us with the guidance, wisdom, strength, and ability to attain whatever success we have on our journey through life. Like Moses’ staff, we are merely God’s instruments; both the power and glory belong to Him.
Like their parents, my youngest grands like to race and recently did this year’s 5K “Hot Chocolate” run. When Paul referred to running, he wasn’t referring to fun runs like theirs or a marathon like the one their parents ran nor were his boxing and wrestling references to the sports we know today. His allusions were to the Panhellenic games and Olympics which were well known throughout the Roman Empire in his day.
Pastor Chris recently shared a devotion she read in which the author gives his office globe a gentle spin each morning. After a moment or two, he places a finger on the globe, stops its revolution, and prays for the people wherever his finger lands. Chris said she’s adopted this practice but, to make it more than a quick uninformed prayer, she does some research on the country’s needs and religions to guide her petitions.
Last month we took a driving trip through Virginia and North Carolina to enjoy the fall colors in the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains. While taking a train ride along the Nantahala River Gorge, we commented on the beautiful vines covering the hillside. Our seat-mate told us this lovely looking plant is a destructive weed called kudzu. Native to Asia, this semi-woody vine was introduced to the U.S. back in 1876 during the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. Originally advertised as an ornamental plant, kudzu’s ability to grow up to a foot day (and up to 60-feet a year), overtake, grow over, and smother just about anything in its path, has given it a new name: “the vine that ate the South.”
Saul, a man willing to kill his son rather than concede his error in making a foolish vow, wasn’t quite as eager to fulfill other vows he made. Later, he promised his daughter (along with exemption from taxes and military service) to the man who killed Goliath. While the vow prohibiting his men from eating came from his desire for revenge, this one may have come from fear. It was the king’s job to lead his men into battle and Saul, as the tallest man and the only one with bronze armor like Goliath’s, was the obvious choice to take on the Philistine. Perhaps Saul hoped the promise of wealth, honor, and a place at the king’s table would be incentive enough for someone else to volunteer to face the Philistine. For 40 days Goliath had taunted Israel but there were no takers until David.
Last week, when writing how Jephthah’s reckless vow caused his daughter’s death, I remembered how Saul’s equally foolish vow nearly cost his son’s life. While Israel was at war with the Philistines, Saul and his 600 men were camped near Gibeah. Israel was seriously out-numbered by the better-armed Philistines and, because their enemy controlled the pass at Micmash, Saul’s troops could proceed no further. Although the rest of Saul’s men were afraid, Jonathan and his armor bearer were confident that the Lord was with them. Tired of the hopeless standoff with their enemies, the two snuck out of camp and headed toward the Philistine garrison. After passing through two treacherous cliffs and scaling a steep slope, they entered the enemy outpost and, outnumbered ten to one, killed them all.
Devotions of the Heart 