Not All That
There are several stories in the Bible that stop me cold.
They leave me feel uneasy.
From my limited human perspective they seem unfair, and all I can do when I read them is to reaffirm my conviction that God’s sense of justice and fairness is absolute and right and holy compared to mine.
The story of Moses’ final days, recorded in Deuteronomy 34, is one of those stories.
Moses was called out of retirement by God at the burning bush at the age of 80. He was to confront Pharaoh and arrange the release of over one million Jewish slaves from Egypt and lead them into the Promised Land.
In the process he has intimate communion with God. He overseas the construction of the Tabernacle. He repeatedly experiences God’s glory and leads Israel for over 40 years, through tough circumstances, fierce opposition, and against many enemies from within and without.
He has one of the most dramatic and powerful stories in all of the Old Testament, including being called a friend of God, speaking to God face-to-face, and being frequently defended by God Himself.
The Book of Hebrews lists him as one of the giants of the faith.
And yet… when the day comes for Israel to actually enter the Promised Land, God takes Moses up to the top of Mount Nebo, shows him a panoramic view of all the land, and says, “I will give it to your descendants. I have now allowed you to see it with your eyes, but you will not enter the land.” (Deuteronomy 34:4)
Wait!
Moses is not going in?
After all these years?
We learn the reason why in Numbers 20.
Here is what happened.
Camped within sight of the Promised Land, in the desert, east of the Jordan River, the people rebelled… again… and blamed Moses for bringing them all the way from Egypt just to have then die out here in this terrible place! (Numbers 20:5).
Bottom line was they had no water, and in the desert that was a big deal.
Huge!
Moses and Aaron immediately turned to the Lord, who told them to gather the people around a certain rock, and to speak to the rock, and that enough water will be provided to “satisfy the whole community and their livestock” (Numbers 20:8).
From the story of Israel’s journey, from Egypt to the Promised Land, we know that this was not the first time God had provided water out of a rock… millions of gallons.
But this time Moses was at the end of his patience with the people and was angered by one more challenge to his leadership.
So, when the people gathered around the rock, instead of speaking to the rock, like God had instructed him, he said, “‘Listen you rebels! Must we bring you water from this rock?’ And he raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, and water gushed out” (Numbers 20:10b-11).
We?
God was not pleased with Moses and told him right then that because He did not honor the Lord before the people that he would not be going into the Promised Land.
He did not credit the Lord for the provision of water out of the rock. He acted like he was the one getting them the water.
The Psalmist gives us another perspective on this story, “At Meribah they angered the Lord, causing Moses serious trouble. They made Moses angry, and he spoke foolishly” (Psalm 106:32-33).
It seems clear to me that Moses’ “foolish words” that cost him getting into the Promised Land was taking personal credit in front of the people for bringing them water out of the rock.
This is the temptation for us all as Christ-followers today… taking personal credit for what we know only God could have done in and through us.
Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). The context of this verse is Jesus teaching on the fruitfulness of the branch when attached to the vine… referring to the kingdom results multiplied through our lives through our connection to Jesus, the Vine.
We cannot take credit for any of it. We dare not act as if we are the ones producing kingdom results.
Whatever good flows out of our lives comes from Him and belongs to Him.
We are not all that!
And in a world of media coverage and social media boasting… this is a good thing to remember.