27 September 2019
Potential Titles:-
BACKDROP
Key words / phrases
Potential Discussion Questions
Commentaries On "Potential Discussion Questions"
God is everywhere. In the wilderness, here, some are because of sin (Numbers 14:26-25) and some are apparently not (Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Caleb, ...). But God made Himself available to both groups. For instance, right here, in this water-less land with seemingly no hope, God miraculously provided them with ABUNDANT "water from the rock" (v8 - v11), "out of no-where". Paul testifies in 1 Corinthians 10:4:- "For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. " - That is, Jesus was sustaining them in the wilderness and the incident here also signifies that Jesus can bring forth life in abundance, no matter what the situation is!
So, whether you are going through some "valley" / "wilderness" in life or you see the whole life as journey through wilderness (compared to new heavens / new earth that is our final destination), walk by faith not by sight - That is no matter what situation you are going through, Jesus can always bring forth life in abundance in that situation.
Here God's people got into a situation where they had to 100% depend on God. Actually we are all 100% dependent on God at all times (and we even do not realize it). Incidents like these are only clear reminder of that fact. In general, we are to humbly lift up all our needs to God (remember Lord's prayer suggests we even ask God for daily bread - In America who would pray for readily / abundantly available bread?!)! We should do it, knowingly that at the end of the day, God is sustaining us 100% (yes many do not realize this). This does not mean we do not have to do any work. We work because we are commanded to do so and in doing so we are partaking in God's redeeming works as willed by God. If we do not work, then we walk in disobedience, which will eat away from our blessings from God.
When we encounter trouble in life, we can be tempted to unjustly grumble / complain / blame-others, as we see here. Those times will be test of our faith, and we must not fail as the Israelites failed here. Instead we are to take all our needs to God and be patient.
At the end of our day, God is providing for all our needs, 100% (and we may not be realizing it). Incidents such as these here ("water from rock" - v8-11), when they happen any time, are also meant to clearly demonstrate that.
Just as Moses & Aaron misrepresented God here - many have mis-represented God since then and continue to do so. We see it here clearly God does not take it lightly. In, general, we are called to be ambassadors of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). When we are not Christ-like or ambassadors of Christ to people, we are mis-representation God to people.
Sins committed:- (1) Lying / false accusations - v4 - It was because of their sins (not Moses) they were in wilderness (Numbers 14:26-25), (2) They unjustly quarreled with Moses, their God ordained leader - v3, (3) Instead of taking up their needs to God, they became rebellious (v2 - 5) - They failed in their test of patience (4) Moses & Aaron misrepresented God (v 12, 24) (5) They lost track of God's glorious plan of redemption for them - when challenged by food and water - They would rather go back to intense slavery in Egypt.
Moses & Aaron misrepresented God here, and were punished quite severely for it. Was it too much, especially given their stature? (oh yea, God does not do favoritism)
I am tempted to say, inspired from passages such as Exodus 34:6-7 ("The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, ... "), 1 John 1:9 ("If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness ... "), that there might have been an unrepentant pattern of sin in the life of Moses & Aaron that may have led to this dire punishment.
Good reads:- https://www.gotquestions.org/consequences-of-sin.html, https://www.gotquestions.org/unconfessed-sin.html,