BRAGADAYJAH 451
Moses struck the Rock
I must admit that there were
two occasions after which having read the offence and the punishment, I verily
said in my heart that God’s punishment was too severe and this is one of them,
the other being His summary treatment of Uzi, David’s servant, when he laid his
hand on the cart carrying the ark of the covenant.
Of course with riper years
and systematic study it was revealed that there were very deep significance to
the offences and thus the reason for a fit punishment.
In this case I saw Moses as
having toiled and labored hard and faithfully as he pressed towards the promised
land, and that he clearly got overdone by the constant threat and rebellious
nature of the children of Israel; after all has God himself not characterize them as
an unruly and stiff-necked people?
In any event we must also
understand that God saw into Moses’ heart and thus the intention behind his
words and actions in a way that we could not.
In striking the rock Moses
took credit for what God had done for himself; (he said must we?); God told him
to speak to the rock; in striking it he was disobedient; he clearly lost his temper
as we see him striking the rock twice; he not only lost his temper but he
judged the people harshly, he called them rebels; he resented them for
expressing their needs; he sought to get the glory which belonged to God for
himself. Surely God will share His glory
with any man! Both he and Aaron rebelled against God in failing to do what God said
to do; so both suffered the same fate.
In addition we know that the Rock is Jesus, hence the seriousness of the
offence.
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