Readings for today: Numbers 17-20
As a pastor, I do a lot of counseling. One of the most common issues I face is something called “blame shifting.” Basically, a person commits a wrong and when confronted on it, “shifts” the blame to someone else. This can be their spouse. Their children. Their parents. Their boss. Even their pastor! :-) I cannot tell you the number of times I have counseled a couple on their marriage only to have them blame me for their eventual separation and divorce. Never-mind the fact they were unwilling to put in the work. Unwilling to change any of their unhealthy behaviors. Unwilling to engage each other at a different level. At the end of the day, because the counseling didn’t “work”, it must be my failure as a pastor.
We see this same dynamic in play in Moses’ relationship with Israel. How many times do they accuse Moses of failing to lead them well? How many times do they blame him for not providing water, food, or getting them to the Promised Land? Never-mind their own sin. Their own lack of faith. Their own fear. Their worship of false gods. “And the people quarreled with Moses and said, "Would that we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord! Why have you brought the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness, that we should die here, both we and our cattle? And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink." (Num. 20:3-5) Over and over again, we hear this refrain. Let’s go back to Egypt. Let’s go back to slavery. You brought us out here to die. The accusations are unjust. The attacks are personal. And Moses must have been hurt so he responds the way any of us would…he reacts in anger.
“Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.” (Numbers 20:10-11) Makes perfect sense to me. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve felt exactly the same way. It’s incredibly frustrating to be falsely accused. It’s hurtful to have your motives questioned or your character attacked. It makes me angry when people lie about me or say all manner of things about me that just are not true. How many times have I wanted to lash out over the years? How many times have I lashed out only to later regret it?
God will not be mocked. He will not allow us to get in the way of His own glory. By lashing out in anger and striking the rock twice, Moses was more focused on himself than on God. The people would now be tempted to be more afraid of Moses than of the Lord. So the Lord issues His judgment. “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” No one is above God’s law, not you. Not me. Not even Moses. All of us are responsible to “uphold God as holy” in the eyes of those we live with and live among. All of us are responsible to point people to Jesus no matter how hurt or betrayed or angry we may feel. And the only way we can ever do this with any kind of integrity is if we swallow our pride and humble ourselves before the Lord.
Readings for tomorrow: Numbers 21-24