Daily EncouragementSample

These words, or more particularly the attitude they revealed, cost Moses his entry into the promised land. His words were undoubtedly significant; “rash words came from Moses’ lips,” says the Psalmist (Ps. 106:33). The attitude was declared by the Lord to be one of unbelief: “Because, you did not trust in me . . . you broke faith with me; and the actual offence was a failure to honour him as holy:” “You did not uphold my holiness among the Israelites” (Num. 20:12; Deut. 32:51).

The difficulties which expositors have with this incident and the possible relevance of Paul’s words, “and that rock was Christ” (1 Cor. 10:4), would indicate that there is more in it than meets the eye. This much is clear: God’s servants, even when provoked, must never misrepresent him; Christ’s ambassadors must follow in the steps of the One “who when . . . . reviled, reviled not again” (1 Pet. 2:23, AV). They uphold his holiness when they demonstrate his grace; they glorify his truth when they speak it in love.

The severity of God’s words to Moses, “you will not bring the community into the land I gave them” (Num. 20:12) underlines for us seriousness of the Lord’s concern about the spirit in which his ministers serve among his people. His servants are to be gracious, even though the people are frequently critical of them.