“And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink. Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD? And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst? And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me. And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?” (Exodus 17:1-7).
Introduction
Here we find Moses obediently doing exactly what God commanded, and it is through this obedience that drinking water was supplied to the people of Israel. This miracle / result proved that Moses was truly an obedient servant of God. Later we read of a similar scenario when the Israelites needed water. The Lord said to Moses, “Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink” (Numbers 20:8). This time Moses went beyond what God asked him to do, “And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also” (Numbers 20:11). He got the same results as previously, but this time he was out of God’s will, “And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them” (Numbers 20:12). We see then that results don’t always prove success.
Results prove nothing
Notice that the “water came out abundantly.” In the eyes of the congregation of Israel Moses was a man of God, a miracle-worker, and successful in his ministry. Here was a man who met their needs, not only that, but it was in abundance. We too would have esteemed Moses very highly that day. In our eyes he would have been someone to follow. God was angered at what Moses did, and at that moment His servant was not a success, but a big failure. “They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes: Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips” (Psalm 106:32-33). For his presumption he was not allowed to lead Israel into the Promised Land. Instead of being Israel’s spiritual leader, Moses entertained God’s people with party tricks.
What Moses did that day did not prove success but that he still had rebellion in his heart. How many people do we know have been influenced by big-time evangelists and preachers? They have been be-dazzled by showmen who have put on the glitz to make them think that they are men of God. How many tall stories have we heard from preacher’s mouths about their escapades around the world? Those who use gimmicks to get a following have fallen into the same trap as Moses did. It does not matter if they get huge crowds, feed millions in Africa, or open Bible Schools in Russia, if they are not doing what God wants it is all for nothing. “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it” (Psalm 127:1). It proves absolutely nothing if we get amazing results but not achieve them God’s way. The issue is not whether a pastor brings multitudes to Christ, or that the church is thriving, instead the question is, “Is the Lord’s will being done?”
Obedience is the road to success
Not only did Moses disobey God, but he also was guilty of pointing the people to himself rather than God. The Lord punished another of Israel’s leaders for disobeying Him. He said to Saul, through the prophet Samuel, “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22).
Much of what goes for Christianity today is little more than show, public relations, and advertisement. Where do we find leaders and congregations who truly love and obey the Lord? Beautiful singing, attractive publications, and church buildings do not mean God is in it. Only when the Holy God is honoured by obedient believers can there be real and lasting success. “Therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them” (Numbers 20:12).
Conclusion
The Israelites got their abundant supply of water. It was obviously a spectacular and awe-inspiring event, one which they would speak of for many years. Was what Moses did really a big deal, for had not God allowed him to strike the rock previously? It was evil in the eyes of the Lord because Moses did not act according to God’s command. The Lord is only exalted amongst those who obediently serve Him. Only then can we be successful in God’s eyes. “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15) … “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Joshua 1:8).
© 15/3/2008