Moses and Aaron turned away from the people and went to the entrance of the Tabernacle, where they fell face down on the ground. Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to them, and the Lord said to Moses, “You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its water. You will provide enough water from the rock to satisfy the whole community and their livestock.” So Moses did as he was told. He took the staff from the place where it was kept before the Lord. Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock. “Listen, you rebels!” he shouted. “Must we bring you water from this rock?” Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!” [Numbers 20.6-20]
Even though Moses and Aaron demonstrated such a devotion to God as to fall on their faces before Him, and even though Yahweh the Lord appeared in His glorious presence to them there and instructed them what to do, they failed miserably costing them their chance to enter the Promised Land.
What is the moral of the story?
Perhaps we should consider that it matters not what level of devotion we practice if we do not obey the exact instructions given to us by God. Just because we "fall on our faces" before God does not give us the right to only partially follow His instructions. Partial obedience is no obedience at all.
We are not free to modify God's instructions.
Father, help us to examine our lives to see if we are truly obedient to what You have directed us to do or if we have modified our response!
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