No Crutches
The odds were stacked against Moses from the get go.
Israel had wandered from one desert into another1—great!
His sister had just died and there was no water—strikes two and three.
Leaders are built to endure endless demands from those they lead.
In Moses’ defence though, when a grieving, thirsty man is accused of deliberately aiding the genocide of his own people2— yep, that’ll flip the switch.
As per usual, Moses went to God and as per usual God told him what to do. There was only one problem—God didn’t give Moses a method he was used to.
Moses was familiar with striking the rock.
Actually, Moses was more familiar with using his staff whenever trouble struck (no pun intended).
You’ve got to remember; the track record with Moses’ staff was very impressive.
This staff had turned into a snake before Pharaoh. The same staff had turned the waters to blood in Egypt.
The staff had been used to part the Red Sea. And this same staff had been used to strike a rock before, to bring out water for the community to drink.
Small wonder that Moses would go back to that staff even if God’s instruction had changed.
Instead of speaking to the rock, Moses used his staff to hit the rock.
…and the water came forth.
The Halleluiah moment wasn’t to last for him.
Israel was satisfied but Moses had made a move that would cost him dearly.
I know how emotions and leaning towards the familiar can make you question clearly laid out instructions, even if those instructions are coming from God.
Even though there was a result, God was concerned about Moses’ methods.
When God confronted His prophet, He said, “Because you did not trust me… (Gulp.)”
I’ve done that.
I’ve stared at a rock and wondered how something as solid can respond to something as simple as prayer.
I’ve looked trouble in the face and thrown a fit when I asked God for help and His response has been wait.
It’s easy to look to my old battle strategies while believing God isn’t paying attention to me.
I’ve tried logic, venting and followed my emotions in a bid to move the insurmountable mountains in my life.
What Moses forgot was that the power was not in the staff.
Neither was the solution in the familiar.
God has always been the source of the miraculous.
He may use a particular something to solve a particular problem in a particular season but when His methods change so should ours.
Your familiar something may be your logic, your connections or some other such staff.
Ultimately though, God is the one who answers prayer and you don’t have to make yours complicated for Him to hear you.
His solution may look too simple.
What you’ve got to remember is that the God who backs you is anything but simple.
Because Moses didn’t trust, he lost out on the promised land.
You can write a different script…even if it looks simple.
Trusting Him is the point and when you do, brace for the blessing.
1 Numbers 20v1
2 Numbers 20v4