Understanding about Moses

Warning: This is a long one but well worth the read.

We can't leave the desert and cross the Jordan until we answer the #1 question: Why didn't Moses get to lead the people into the Promised Land? What did he do that was so bad? In classes and retreats this has been asked of me countless times. Let's shed some light on it and get it straight in our hearts.

The quick answer is in Numbers 20. The people were complaining (again) about the lack of water and 'this terrible place'. They had been in the desert 38 years, most of the older generation had died, and the new generation was continuing the rebellion against God by complaining. God told Moses to go with Aaron, take the staff and "Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water." So Moses gathered the people together and said, "Listen you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?" Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. The people were granted their water, but Moses and Aaron were given a stern rebuke from the Lord. God then said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them."

There it is. The reason. Moses struck the rock twice when he was supposed to speak to the rock. He was to show reverence to the rock. Fed up with the people and grieving over his sister's death, Moses exploded in anger. To sum up his sin, Moses disobeyed God's clear instruction, he did not fully trust God, and he took God's Glory to himself.

Yet, I many of us still feel dissatisfied, as if there is more to the reason, or more to understanding what God meant when He said, "you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy"...

The complicated answer satisfies my heart. Yes, this could easily have been 40 years of accumulated frustration over the continued rebellion of the people. The lack of trust could mean that Moses did not believe a simple word would do it - the rock needed a good strike. Or, *it has been suggested that Moses was disappointed in God's failure to bring wrath on these people and he took it upon himself to act as God.

But here's the real reason as best as we can understand our Holy God. **I Cor. 10:4 tells us that the rock was the Lord Jesus Christ and that in the desert the children of Israel all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual water. In other words, they all ate manna and drank water from the rock in order to live. God was clearly making the point that we all live by Christ and Christ alone. He is our Bread and Water of Life.

God was using Moses' treatment to the rock to teach about His Son. At the beginning of their journey, God told Moses to strike the rock for water. And he did. This was a picture of Christ struck (crucified). But Christ only needed to be struck once - He does not have to die again and again for us to be saved. The Bible tells us He died once and for all.

And about God's instruction to Moses the second time, to speak to the rock for life giving water... this was to be a picture that, as believer's in Christ's death, we have the unbelievable privilege of being able to speak to Christ and ask Him our own request for life, eternal life. When Moses struck the rock he spoiled the picture. Together, all these facets of Moses' disobedience resulted in both he and Aaron not being able to enter the Promised Land in their lifetime.

One more quick note: Oh my goodness, Moses was certainly able to enter the Promised Land after his earthly lifetime. You will remember that it was Moses with Elijah who stood with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration and spoke with Him about the cross. Moses. Living. In the Promised Land. With the Lord. Now that is worth thinking about!


* from Expositor's Bible Commentary
** from Warren Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament