BRAGADAYJAH 139

Thursday, December 11, 2014

BRAGADAYJAH 452


BRAGADAYJAH 452
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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