Scripture tells us that “they [the children of Israel] angered Him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes: because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips” (Psa. 106:32-3332They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes: 33Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips. (Psalm 106:32‑33)).
It is very important for us to perceive that God deals with us on the ground of His own relationship towards us. This is as true in discipline as in anything else, for we receive correction from our Father because He is our Father. God cannot pass over the sins of His saints as over those of the world. Sin in a saint of God is much more serious than in an unbeliever, since the glory of God suffers so much more at our hands.
Further, it is comforting to see that God does not hesitate to record in His Word the failures of His saints. He is showing us in them that His faithfulness never fails. While God visits the sins of His people, yet their blessing shall not fail, for God does not fail in His promises because of our failure.
Moses
When we come to Moses, we find that “he spake unadvisedly with his lips.” Moses himself records it several times, to show that even an unadvised word is not passed over unnoticed.
I believe that we sin much in this very respect, in speaking unadvisedly with our lips. As the Apostle James says, “In many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body” (James 3:22For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. (James 3:2)). It is here that Satan gets such an advantage over us. The amount of sorrow thus brought upon souls cannot be estimated, for much of the mischief that arises among saints is from speaking unadvisedly with the lips.
In contrast, the Lord Jesus stood where Moses failed. When He was here, all the sitting down in the seat of the scornful of those who sought to entangle Him in His talk, all the contradiction of sinners against Himself, all their arguments never drew forth an unadvised word. Rather, His wisdom shone conspicuously forth in silencing them.
Murmuring
It is not unusual for those who have known redemption through the blood of the Lamb to murmur like Israel, because of not having “the vines and figs and pomegranates” as quickly as they wish. When the congregation had no water, what can Moses and Aaron do? They have no resources in themselves; they can only cast it before the Lord. “Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces” (Num. 20:66And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto them. (Numbers 20:6)). As a result, we read that “the glory of the Lord appeared unto them.” How blessed this was for Moses and Aaron! Whatever the circumstances may be, the moment we get before the Lord, the glory of the Lord appears. “The Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink” (Num. 20:7-87And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 8Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. (Numbers 20:7‑8)). Moses ought to have rested simply in the Lord, for the rod he was to take was Aaron’s rod — the rod of priestly grace.
The Waters of Meribah
God will honor His servants, but the moment we step out of the servant’s place, He humbles us. Moses takes the rod, and he says, “Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?” He does not sanctify the Lord in the eyes of the congregation, for he says “we,” not “the Lord.” No sooner do we assume to be anything than we get out of the servant’s place. Then “Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice.” He has been told to speak to the rock, but he smites it twice, as though divine power has need of being seconded by human energy. But still “the water came out.” God’s faithfulness is not touched by the failure of His servant. Moses fails, but God does not deny Moses to be His servant, neither does He deny the power of the rod. God may be using an individual’s ministry for blessing to the souls of others, when He is about to discipline that very person, so used of Him. He abides faithful; He will not (blessed be His name!) deny His own truth, though mixed up with much weakness, and even of self, in those who preach it.
Beloved, let us remember that it was a little thing, an unadvised word, that occasioned to Moses the loss of Canaan. And let us remember, moreover, that the governance of the tongue is more pressed upon us in the New Testament than almost anything else. “By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” (Matt. 12:3737For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. (Matthew 12:37)). Seeking to exalt ourselves is rebellion against God, for it is taking God’s glory and giving it to ourselves. Wherever we go, let us endeavor to carry with us a sense of God’s presence, His holiness, and His love; it will preserve us from a thousand snares.
Christian Friend, Vol. 1 (adapted)