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’ –(Numbers 20:12 NIV).
Trusting in God is good. But when you are leaders of God’s flock you have to trust enough to honor God. This incident teaches us that there is a world of difference between “trusting” and “trusting enough.”
As for the shepherds of God’s flock they have a huge responsibility. The flock look up to them for everything. Whatever they do is closely observed.
Any small mistake is magnified before the watchful eyes of the people. And even one mistake can prove too costly.
This is what happened to Moses and Aaron. They were frustrated by the constant grumbling and murmuring of the Israelites. It made them open to sin.
And when Moses and Aaron cried out to the Lord about the grumbling of the Israelites, God asked Moses to take the staff and speak to the rock while the people watched so that it will pour out its water.
Moses, for once in his life as leader of God’s flock, overstepped God’s command. God asked him to speak to the rock. Instead he shouted at the people.
And when speaking to the rock would have brought water out of it, he finished his anger at the people and on the rock by raising his arm and striking it with his staff. Not once, but twice!
By just one wrong act of not trusting enough they both lost the honor of leading God’s people to the Promised Land! So beware of that one act that can disqualify you!
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