25/3/18 – Numbers 19, Numbers 20, Numbers 21:1-3 – Luke 5:33-39, Luke 6:1-11 – Proverbs 8:1-11

Num 20:10-12

Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “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. And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “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.” 

I used to play squash on a weekend, with some people from church. I wasn’t very fit, but I played ok. Well… sort of. Usually I started a game well, but the pressure at the end was often where I’d lose it.

“Grabbing defeat from the jaws of victory” was how my game was described.

It’s a phrase that came to mind here when reading what happened to Moses.

We’ve been reading this quite fast – so it’s good to get a bit of a timeline here… the delay of taking the promised land was 40 years in the wilderness.

This is happening at year 38. The crossing of the Jordan and the fight against Jericho is 2 years away.

Most of those who God had said would not enter the land had died. The rest would have been close.

2 years to go… and Moses’ trust slips. So close – but yet so far.

He loses his temper and doesn’t do what God has said. For what was coming – Israel needed a leader that would stick with everything God told him to do… they needed a leader that could take Jericho with faith.

Moses shows at this moment, he is no longer that leader. God wouldn’t let Moses lead them into the land… not just as punishment for his sin, but that Moses was not able to do it anymore. He’d taken them this far, but could go no further. He’d disobeyed publicly – and dishonoured God. He couldn’t lead the conquest.

We can do so well for so long, but we must remain faithful. We must hold fast. We must keep trusting God. Don’t let a moment ruin it. Don’t grasp defeat from the jaws of victory.

Prov 8:10-11

Take my instruction instead of silver,

and knowledge rather than choice gold,

for wisdom is better than jewels,

and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

Wisdom is better than jewels. You can gain much in this world, make it to the top of your chosen career – make so much money you never have to worry again… but without wisdom, it’s not worth a whole lot and can disappear as fast as one phone call.

Don’t seek worldly success – seek wisdom. Seek the will of God. Seek the kingdom first… and all the other stuff… Jesus said it will be added to you. Keep focused on the right things.