26 October Numbers 20

Trust and Obey

Numbers 20:10-12 (AMP) “Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. Moses said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; must we bring you water out of this rock?” Then Moses raised his hand [in anger] and with his rod he struck the rock twice [instead of speaking to the rock as the Lord had commanded]. And the water poured out abundantly, and the congregation and their livestock drank [fresh water]. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you have not believed (trusted) Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, you therefore shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them”.

Moses disobeyed God in a way that would lead him to forfeit the opportunity to enter the Promised Land. This was a massive moment in Moses’ life and God’s people’s history. God had said not to strike the rock but to speak to the rock. God had said to do this in a way that would reflect his character. What happens, though, is Moses takes this into his own hands. He strikes the rock out of anger, much like before.

What stood out for me in this passage is the Lord said to Moses “Because you have not believed (trusted) Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, you therefore shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”

Because Moses did not trust God, he acted in disobedience and the old ways of doing this, while God wanted to lead him into new ways. His lack of faith and disobedience led Moses to miss God’s promised land. 1 Samuel 15:22 (AMP) “Has the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obedience to the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed [is better] than the fat of rams. We must take time to obey God’s word by listening, trusting and committing.

*Listening*

When we take time to listen to God, we will undoubtedly hear His voice. Psalm 46:10 (AMP) “Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth.”

*Trust*

We trust God when we are obedient to what He says. Ephesians 3:20 (AMP) ”Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us”. Confirmed by Proverbs 3:5-6 (AMP) “Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart And do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way]

*Commitment*

Obedience comes from trusting in God, who is able. It requires commitment! When we obey, we must stay committed even when we can’t see the immediate results. Being obedient to God will require us not to compromise His word and His voice. Isaiah 1:19 (AMP) If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the best of the land”. A.W. Tozer posits this: “It is not just trust; it is not just obey. It is trust and obey.” Furthermore Paul writes to the Philippians 2:12-13 (MSG) “What I’m getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure”.

In conclusion, the story of Moses striking the rock instead of speaking to it as God commanded illustrates a profound lesson on trust and obedience. Moses, in a moment of anger, chose his way rather than God's, and this act of disobedience cost him the opportunity to enter the Promised Land. The consequences of disobedience, as seen here, remind us that God desires our trust in His instructions, and our actions should reflect His holiness.

Trusting God and obeying Him go hand in hand. Obedience is better than sacrifice. God is not merely looking for our offerings or displays of religious devotion; He desires a heart fully committed to His will. When we listen, trust, and commit to obeying God, we align ourselves with His perfect plans, which are always more significant than we could imagine.

Our obedience must be steadfast, even when we don’t immediately see the results. We need to rely on God’s wisdom, not our understanding. True faith is revealed when we trust and obey God in all circumstances.

Ultimately, we must continue living in responsive obedience, knowing God works within us for His pleasure and purpose. Let us, therefore, live with a heart that listens, trusts, and remains committed to God, knowing that His ways will always lead us to the best of the promised land.