~ Devotion by Cayce Fletcher (SC)
Cayce Fletcher is a wife and homeschool mom of three. She writes and podcasts at amorebeautifullifecollective.com where she helps women cultivate a life of depth, discipline, and delight. Read the latest post on finding beauty in the everyday here.
Numbers 19 finishes the communication of the law of God to his people through Moses. We then see a 38-year jump in time. Right after the Exodus from Egypt, the people traveled to Mount Sinai. There they encamped around the mountain for about a year. It is there they received the law and celebrated the first Passover.
After the year spent around Sinai, the Israelites went directly to Canaan, where the infamous episode with the spies took place. The Israelites were forced to wander for 40 years. Numbers 20 begins during this 40th year. The old generation that included Miriam (126 years old when she died) and Aaron (123 years old) was passing away, and the new generation was preparing to enter the Promised Land.
Still, even though so much time had passed, the people seemed to have learned nothing. They began grumbling and complaining again. Moses turned to God in his distress. He fell down on his knees in prayer. What a picture of how we should respond when we are at the end of our rope!
God met him there and gave him the next steps to take. He was to go to the rock and tell the water to come out.
And then the tragedy occurs – Moses, who always chose the humble path, responded in anger (with a little bravado) to the people. He goes up to the rock, “and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?”” Then, he strikes the rock twice.
Because of his disobedience, he is barred from the promised land. God tells him that his response ‘did not uphold God as holy before the people.’
The right response to God is faithful obedience on our knees. It is there that we meet him face-to-face. But it is so easy to let our view of God get clouded by our messy emotions and our chaotic surroundings.
Do we respond to God in faithful obedience? Or do we react rashly – foolishly – hoping God will bless the response even if it’s sinful?
God requires whole-hearted obedience and an attitude that reflects a pure heart. Moses’ anger towards the people in that moment caused him to react violently – and Moses was judged for it.
We rarely feel fear, awe, or reverence for authority today, but today’s passage reminds us that God is holy. We must remember the holiness of God and cultivate a healthy fear of God in our souls. The fear of God helps us to respond faithfully with humility to the commands of God.
As we read of the end of Miriam and Aaron’s lives, let’s be reminded that the foundation of the legacy of our lives should be this fear of God. As Ecclesiastes 12:13 says, “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”
Reflection Questions
- How does a life built on the foundation of the fear of the Lord differ from a life without it?
- In what ways did Moses show a fear of God throughout his life? Why did this instance at Meribah not show a fear of God?
- How do you grow in your fear of the Lord?
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Please let us remember who the true Lord of our lives is. Let us remember how great you are. Let us remember that you are God and you are not. Thank you for the ways that you draw us back to this truth.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Seek Grow Love 