Scripture: Numbers 20.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Numbers 20:7-12 (GW)

7 The Lord said to Moses, 8 “Take your staff, then you and your brother Aaron gather the community. Right before their eyes, tell the rock to give up its water. In this way you will give the community water from the rock for them and their animals to drink.”

9 Moses took his staff out of {the tent in} the Lord’s presence as he had been commanded. 10 Then Moses and Aaron assembled the community in front of the rock and said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring water out of this rock for you?”

11 Moses raised his hand and hit the rock twice with the staff. Water came pouring out, and all the people and their animals drank.

12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “You didn’t trust me! You didn’t show the Israelites how holy I am! So you will not bring this congregation into the land I’m giving them.”

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

A simple, but God centered and God instructed, set of instructions were given to Moses and Aaron to follow. If followed exactly, God would have been recognized. However Moses made much of the opportunity to promote himself, after all he had really been beat up on by the Israelites, and this may have been an opportunity to show them how great a man/leader he was. Friend, when we consider how great God is, and when we consider how much He does for us each and every day, who are we to promote ourselves before anyone? After all, it is God himself who gives us life, health and food to eat each day. Why on earth would we lead anyone to believe in any powers or skill that we might have? It is God, and God alone who designed and made us. He should be the one that we allow to control and direct all that we do and say. By Moses adding in his two cents so that the miracle of producing water from a mere rock could be attributed to his power and/or the power in his rod, he and Aaron were reprimanded by God and their lives shortened as a result. What about you friend, and what about me, how often have we promoted self instead of clearly showing that it is God and God alone that works in and through us that should receive the praise for anything accomplished through us? I admire Christian leaders who, after working so hard and diligently, yet when they are praised for the job they did, asks that you give God the glory for the great work He did in the situation! For this is so true – had it not been for God, what could we have done? To God be the glory, great things He has done! This is both past and present, for I know that He still accomplishes great work though me, and His Godly leaders today. Let’s give the praise to Him, where it truly belongs!

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father, although I am mere human and can do little on my own, yet as a child of the King of all kings, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Therefore it is You that should receive all the glory and honor from anything that may be accomplished through me. Please help me to stay in Your Word and follow Your commands as instructed, without diluting it with any of my own ideas that may attribute its success looking like something I may have done. Please help me to be humble and direct the praise for anything accomplished through me to the Master of the plan, You – God and God alone!

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
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