Beyond Common Sense

“I don’t want to strike the rock.” This is my husband’s constant desire, especially since a year ago, circumstances at our church threw more responsibilities back on his plate. What does he mean by that statement, and what can we learn from Moses, who, sadly, did strike the rock?

Numbers twenty records the incident that ended Moses’ life. Why did he do it? Was he just having a bad day? Looking at the beginning verses, we find out more details surrounding the situation:

1. Miriam, his sister, had just died. It was a sad reminder of the brevity of life. Moses was grieving.
2. The people had changed. Striking the rock happened in the fifth month of the fortieth year. MOST, IF NOT AL,L OF THE OLD GENERATION HAD DIED. Moses was facing the children of the elders of Israel.
3. Moses is old. He is really old: 120 years old! He spent forty years in Egypt living in the lap of luxury, forty years on the “back side of the desert” tending sheep and living a “normal” life, and forty years leading Israel through the wilderness.

The average American male’s life expectancy is around seventy-eight. So, if Moses was living today, his numbers would look like this: Up to age twenty-six—living in luxurious Egypt; twenty-six to fifty-two—doing his own thing; fifty-two to seventy-eight—serving God and caring for His people.

And then it happened. He lost it.

If you compare Moses’ reaction in the three times that Israel lacked drinking water, you’ll notice something interesting:

1. Wilderness of Shur and bitter waters: Moses “cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree” (Exodus 15:22-25).
2. Wilderness of Sin: Moses said to the people, “Why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt the LORD?” He “cried out to the LORD,” and God told him to strike the rock (Exodus 17:1-17).
3. Wilderness of Zin: Moses speaks harshly to the people, calling them rebels, says, “Must we bring water for you?” and strikes the rock (Numbers 20:9-11).

Those are the circumstances surrounding the three waterless events, but what you may not see is that the first two incidents happened in the FIRST YEAR of their wandering. The third incident happens in the FORTIETH year. So many frustrating situations happened in those thirty-nine years. This was not an easy flock to lead!

The other difference is that the children of Israel are just that in Moses’ eyes: children. None of them is over forty. He’s 120!

So many of you are in that last third of living. We understand Moses’ frustrations. Are you tired of the battle? Are you weary of the fight? Does this younger generation drive you crazy at times? (Even though we love them to death!!) Do you just want to “strike the rock” and show them how it’s done? Are you grieving the loss of so many loved ones?

As is pointed out so often, it was not Moses’ actions that caused God’s judgment on his life, it was his angry heart of unbelief. In that weakest of moments, he forgot Who he was representing to these young people. He was angry because they sounded just like their parents, complaining about an Egypt they had not even experienced. Moses had lived in Egypt, saw the horrors of slavery, was completely “born-again” when he met God at the fiery bush, and had walked every step of the way with these “children.”

I’m speaking to myself when I say:

• Don’t tire of the battle but keep in the fray.
• Don’t hate the young ones, show them a life transformed.
• Show them the difference that years of walking with Jesus can make.
• Lead them gently.
• Don’t expect them to act mature when they’re not, and when they ARE walking in the light, rejoice and encourage them!

But most of all, remember that God is not finished with you until He calls you home! And we all say, “Even so, come Lord Jesus!” But until then:

Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it [spring] the issues of life.

Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV)