Chapter 20 of Numbers is a hard passage to swallow with regards to Moses. Take a look at what God directed him to do and what he actually did.

Verse 8
8 “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”

Verse 11
11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.

Read very carefully at the slight discrepancy of Moses actions. He struck the rock instead of speaking to it to bring water. Kind of a small detail. That is why this chapter is so hard to comprehend.

Here is what the Lord had to say about it:
Verse 12
But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”

Moses disobeyed God and lost His chance to see that very Promise Land that he was leading his people into. What is that all about?!!

This relates to us in a very real way. Hear me say this first, once you are saved and know Christ as your Lord and Savior, you can NEVER lose your salvation. Moses, with out a doubt went to heaven when he died. No question about that. But, when we do not follow God’s direction, we can most definitely miss out on our earthly promise land. This earthly promise land is a life of abundance in God. Just like John 10:10 says that Jesus brings us life to the full, our abundant life in Christ is full AND fulfilling. We can miss out on that if we go our own way. If we strike the rock rather than talk to it as God directed, we separate ourself from God and miss out on the abundance and joy filled life He gives us.

So, here’s the solution. Pay close attention to the LORD’s guidance by staying plugged into the Holy Spirit. This Counselor will lead you down the correct road and right into the abundant life with Christ. Follow what the Bible says about how we should order our life. It is Truth, treat it as such! Finally, pray that you will have discernment when you are tempted to strike that rock. Don’t miss out on the glory of the Lord while you are on this earth. Though it will pale in comparison to our eternal Promise Land, the earthly promise land with Christ is filled with joy, love, peace and abundance as you live in relationship with God here on this earth.