IT SEEMS that the reason for I Moses’ failure, which lost for him the land of Canaan, was that he did not enter into God’s thoughts about Aaron’s rod with its beautiful blooms and fruit. He was more occupied with his own rod. That rod had brought down those fearful judgments on Egypt, and when stretched out over the Red Sea it had brought deliverance to Israel and destruction to their enemies.
That rod had smitten the rock from whence the gushing waters flowed. It told of God’s judgment falling — not on the sinful murmuring people, but — on Christ, made sin for us upon the cross. The Rock bore the strokes which ought to have fallen on us, and from the riven Rock the living waters flowed. “The gift of God is eternal life” life beyond death and judgment, life flowing for all who will drink of its streams.
In virtue of this the Holy Spirit has come down, and the believer possesses not only life but life abundantly in the power of the Holy Ghost. He has “a well of water springing up into everlasting life” flowing back to its source, even Christ in glory.
The believer now has two natures — the new, for we are “made partakers of the divine nature,” and the old which is as corrupt as ever. What then is God’s remedy for the sins and failings of His people down here in this wilderness world?
Never could it be in His mind to smite the Rock again, nor could there be a fresh sprinkling of the blood. Such a thought would be the greatest dishonor to the finished and everlasting work of the Lord Jesus. In that one only sacrifice that bleed work of redemption was completed once for all.
But that mystic rod of Aaron, laid up before the Lord, tells of Christ come forth in resurrection power to bless and, as their great High Priest, to intercede for them above. God had told Moses to take Aaron’s rod and to simply “speak” to the Rock. He did take “the rod” but, alas, he also took his own rod and smote the rock.
Moses had reflected the grace of God at times in a most wonderful way, but here at Meribah he failed entirely. He misrepresented God who would now act in grace. In wielding the rod of judgment he came under its judgment himself. He could not enter that beautiful land, but must die in the wilderness.
The law could not bring the people into the land — it would only keep them out. Grace alone could bring them in. And so it is with us, dear reader. We would never gain that heavenly land by the law or through any efforts of our own, for we are such failures. Only through the work of the Lord Jesus and His priestly intercession for us on high can God in grace bring us home to the glory He has given.
When we turn over to the New Testament how precious it is to see Moses along with Elijah in company with the Lord on the mount of transfiguration. Grace triumphs over judgment. Moses is in the land now, and associated with Christ in the glory of His kingdom.
ML-02/03/1974