A familiar story in the Bible is when the children of Israel were in the desert and became thirsty. God provided them with water. The first time God told Moses to strike the rock, which he did, and water flowed. The second time God only told Moses to speak to the rock. But Moses struck the rock again. While water still flowed and provided water to the people, it was the one event that caused Moses not to be able to enter the Promised Land. He was only able to see it.
I started to think about the difference here in God’s reasoning and Moses’ actions. It comes down to faith. Moses had strong faith that water would flow when he struck the rock. Actions provide results. His staff had provided much of what had occurred in their mission. He raised his staff, and the Nile waters parted. So, when you think about it, Moses could have had faith in the staff. So, when Moses was asked to simply speak to the rock the second rock the second time, you could understand his doubt. “But God, that is not how we’d done it in the past” “But God, what about the staff?” “But God, who am I?”
So, what did Moses do? He did what he was comfortable with. He disobeyed God and struck the rock again. He did not have faith in himself enough to trust God. He thought what God was doing came from the staff and now within him.
We can do that. We can trust in inanimate objects. If we play music we can trust in our guitar or piano, or I could trust in my keyboard, computer, or even website. Our ability to minister to others comes from the power of the Holy Spirit and God working through us. We are the vessels. We don’t need staffs. So, if God is telling you to just speak His Word, speak it. Don’t look back and press forward. Then trust in what he will do through your obedience.
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”
– Psalm 20:7
Moments for the Heart 