Patience
Speaking to the rock is different than hitting the rock. One is acceptable, the other will cost you something you could have had:
Numbers 20:7Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
8“Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals.”
9So Moses took the rod from before the LORD as He commanded him.
10And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?”
11Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank.
12Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”
The hard places tempt us to force things to happen that God wants to happen, but in our lack of faith, we are tempted to give in to faithless actions. God doesn't NEED us to do anything. He wants us to do what He says the way He says to do it: in patience and faith.
Not learning patience, faith, and humility is costly.
The end times are a culmination of trouble. Overwhelming need.
Matthew 24:21“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22“And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
The Exodus story highlights this reality as the people have real need and very little faith. This incredible need, and the faithless response of the people given to Moses to shepherd, tempted Him to faithlessness! Rebellion and lawlessness are contagious. We need to look for the signs of it in ourselves when we are frustrated by it in others.
Moses felt justified in his frustration because others were behaving badly. He was wrong. God expected more of Moses because Moses was given so much. If you have understanding of others faithlessness, then faith is expected of you. You've been given enough to understand it!
Moses looked at God's instruction, understood water was going to flow, and rather than have God's heart in that, cut to the chase in his own impatience and frustration with the people who weren't walking in the same revelation he was. God called that a lack of faith and a dishonoring (not hallowing) of God.
If I have revelation of what the Lord wants to do, I need to grow in faith and reverence of God (humility) to carry that revelation rightly. I need to appreciate the understanding I have in humility, not hold others accountable to my level of Revelation in pride.
It is important that those God is using believe that only He can do what He wants done. We agree with Him, but He does all the doing. This requires patience in doing the small things He tells us to do...the light burden and easy yoke. God wants people that love Him to let Him be God.
The answer to the hour we live in...the overwhelming need and the bad behavior of those in need...is prayer. Speaking to the rock, not cracking it open.
God will provide for people either way. Water will come. But, what might we lose in the process if we don't learn patience and humility?
It's better to take refuge in the Lord and leave the results to Him, than to make something happen for Him.
Luke 21:34“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.
35“For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36“Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
This is happening right now. By your patience, possess your souls.
Numbers 20:7Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
8“Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals.”
9So Moses took the rod from before the LORD as He commanded him.
10And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?”
11Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank.
12Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”
The hard places tempt us to force things to happen that God wants to happen, but in our lack of faith, we are tempted to give in to faithless actions. God doesn't NEED us to do anything. He wants us to do what He says the way He says to do it: in patience and faith.
Not learning patience, faith, and humility is costly.
The end times are a culmination of trouble. Overwhelming need.
Matthew 24:21“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22“And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
The Exodus story highlights this reality as the people have real need and very little faith. This incredible need, and the faithless response of the people given to Moses to shepherd, tempted Him to faithlessness! Rebellion and lawlessness are contagious. We need to look for the signs of it in ourselves when we are frustrated by it in others.
Moses felt justified in his frustration because others were behaving badly. He was wrong. God expected more of Moses because Moses was given so much. If you have understanding of others faithlessness, then faith is expected of you. You've been given enough to understand it!
Moses looked at God's instruction, understood water was going to flow, and rather than have God's heart in that, cut to the chase in his own impatience and frustration with the people who weren't walking in the same revelation he was. God called that a lack of faith and a dishonoring (not hallowing) of God.
If I have revelation of what the Lord wants to do, I need to grow in faith and reverence of God (humility) to carry that revelation rightly. I need to appreciate the understanding I have in humility, not hold others accountable to my level of Revelation in pride.
It is important that those God is using believe that only He can do what He wants done. We agree with Him, but He does all the doing. This requires patience in doing the small things He tells us to do...the light burden and easy yoke. God wants people that love Him to let Him be God.
The answer to the hour we live in...the overwhelming need and the bad behavior of those in need...is prayer. Speaking to the rock, not cracking it open.
God will provide for people either way. Water will come. But, what might we lose in the process if we don't learn patience and humility?
It's better to take refuge in the Lord and leave the results to Him, than to make something happen for Him.
Luke 21:34“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.
35“For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36“Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
This is happening right now. By your patience, possess your souls.
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