1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:04,840 Speaker 1: Let us pray, and Moses lifted up his hand, and 2 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:08,640 Speaker 1: with his rod he smote the rock twice, and the 3 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:13,160 Speaker 1: water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank and their 4 00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:19,560 Speaker 1: breasts also numbers twenty eleven. Dear Lord, when I am 5 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 1: weary on my journey to greatness, help me to stay 6 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:26,840 Speaker 1: mindful that I do not move outside of your command. 7 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:31,200 Speaker 1: When the weight and the pressure of those around me 8 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 1: closes in, I will not be moved by the external 9 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:40,560 Speaker 1: pressures of others, but instead I will be moved by 10 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:45,839 Speaker 1: my internal principles of obedience to you. I will not 11 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 1: allow anger and frustration to cause me to step out 12 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:53,280 Speaker 1: of my alignment, to step out of alignment with my character. 13 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:58,400 Speaker 1: Protect me, Lord from doing anything that would hinder me 14 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:02,880 Speaker 1: from stepping into my promise land. As I learn from 15 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 1: Moses in numbers twenty twenty one, I will intentionally set 16 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:12,560 Speaker 1: my life story before me as I lead and guide others. 17 00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 1: It will serve as a reminder that I'm my truest 18 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:21,520 Speaker 1: self and most effective when I live according to your plan. 19 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 1: Thank you for giving me stories and examples so that 20 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:33,560 Speaker 1: I can ensure my life is a success. In Jesus' name. Amen, 21 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 1: Thank you for praying with us today. Continue your time 22 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 1: with God by listening to today's Bible story brought to 23 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 1: you by Bible in a Year dot Com. 24 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:59,320 Speaker 2: Water flows from the rock. In our last story, we 25 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:05,120 Speaker 2: learned about Korrah's plot to overthrow Moses. Cora openly challenged 26 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:08,239 Speaker 2: Moses in front of all the people, claiming he was 27 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:13,399 Speaker 2: a dictator and thief of glory. God's rage against Corah boiled, 28 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:17,959 Speaker 2: for Moses was his chosen leader over the people. Cora 29 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 2: and all those who followed him were swallowed up by 30 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:24,520 Speaker 2: the earth and cast into the fiery depths of Shiel. 31 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 2: In this story, we learned about the weariness of Moses 32 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:33,959 Speaker 2: and how his past struggles with anger resurface, as inspired 33 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 2: by the Book of Numbers. 34 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:40,880 Speaker 3: Hello, I'm Jack Graham with today's episode of the Bible 35 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 3: in a Year. In our last story, we learned of 36 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 3: the rebellion by Korra against Moses and Aaron. We saw 37 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:50,120 Speaker 3: how God punished Kara and other leaders for their attempt 38 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 3: to overthrow his servant. We also saw how the people 39 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 3: turned on Moses and God dealt swiftly with them. Moses 40 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 3: again came to their defense and become of him the 41 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 3: Lord spared many lives. But just as we've seen before, 42 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 3: Moses was not perfect. He has dealt with anger before, 43 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:11,080 Speaker 3: and today his weariness with the people will trigger that 44 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 3: anger to devastating personal consequences for Moses well. Also hear 45 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:19,640 Speaker 3: how their journey of wandering in the desert is not 46 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 3: an easy one. It is a far cry from the 47 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:25,360 Speaker 3: rest they could have enjoyed in the Promised Land if 48 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:29,799 Speaker 3: only they had trusted God. Let's listen now to today's reading. 49 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 2: The days were long and hot. The scorching sun set 50 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 2: its gaze upon the Israelite camp, and all those under 51 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 2: it grew weary and unpleasant. Water became scarce, and the 52 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 2: people grew irritable. Once again, like children, the people rose 53 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 2: against Moses and Aaron. To die in Egypt would have 54 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 2: been a kinder death, They yelled, Why have you brought 55 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:58,400 Speaker 2: us out here into the wilderness to die? There is 56 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 2: no water, no figs, no pomegranates, and no grain. The 57 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 2: people scowled like hungry dogs. Moses and Aarons sought guidance 58 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 2: from God once again. They too were weary and beaten 59 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:15,720 Speaker 2: from the sun. Even more, they were plagued with the 60 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:20,120 Speaker 2: constant complaining of the children of Israel. God said to them, 61 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:24,080 Speaker 2: take your staff and speak gently to the rocks before 62 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 2: the people. Make them watch as I provide them water. 63 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:32,279 Speaker 2: Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly of people together and 64 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 2: walked towards the rocks. Their grumblings echoed in Moses's ear 65 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:41,640 Speaker 2: like a constant trip. They mocked him more, complaining the 66 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:46,840 Speaker 2: whole way. Their gripes were endless. Moses had a continued 67 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:50,280 Speaker 2: battle with his internal rage. He grew up as a 68 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:54,839 Speaker 2: part of two worlds, never truly accepted by either. His 69 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 2: righteous anger once caused him to kill an Egyptian and 70 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:01,839 Speaker 2: flee to the wilderness. When he had finally found peace 71 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:05,479 Speaker 2: with his new family, God called him to free hundreds 72 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 2: of thousands of people and lead them into the desert. 73 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 2: There was no more room for patience in his heart. 74 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:16,960 Speaker 2: He was growing mad with the constant bombardment of grievances. 75 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:21,120 Speaker 2: The group was behind him, murmuring to one another. Finally, 76 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:23,839 Speaker 2: in madness, he turned around to the people and yelled, 77 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 2: hear me, you insolent children. You want water so bad. 78 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 2: And immediately Moses struck the rock with his staff, beating 79 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 2: it twice, and water came spilling out for everyone to drink. 80 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:41,719 Speaker 2: It was an unsatisfying outburst. The people ignored Moses's pain 81 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 2: and went straight to the water to drink. They passed 82 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 2: him smiling and cheering. Not one of them said thank you. 83 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 2: But the Lord took notice. You did not believe me. 84 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:58,279 Speaker 2: God said, I told you to speak gently to the rock, 85 00:05:58,839 --> 00:06:02,719 Speaker 2: but you struck it. Vit. Your anger will keep you 86 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 2: from seeing the promised Land. And just like that, Moses 87 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 2: was forbidden from living long enough to see his dreams realized. 88 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 2: Israel continued to journey forward in search of fertile lands 89 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 2: to settle close to Canaan. To travel forward, they needed 90 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:24,720 Speaker 2: to pass through the land Edom, descendants of Esau. So 91 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:28,599 Speaker 2: Moses sent messengers to their king, saying, you have heard 92 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:31,920 Speaker 2: of our hardship coming from Egypt. We have come out 93 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:35,320 Speaker 2: of the grips of slavery alive. Please allow us to 94 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 2: pass through your land and drink your water. We will 95 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:43,880 Speaker 2: depart peacefully. The king, hearing the message from Moses, replied, 96 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 2: if you take one step into my land, I will 97 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:51,719 Speaker 2: put a sword through you. They begged him, offering to 98 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:55,160 Speaker 2: pay for entry and pass on foot. The king spat 99 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:58,560 Speaker 2: on to the ground and pointed his spears at the messengers. 100 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:02,599 Speaker 2: You shall do no such thing. And he gathered his 101 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:06,640 Speaker 2: men and rode towards Israel with force. They galloped towards 102 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 2: the outskirts of their city and made their claim of 103 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:13,560 Speaker 2: ownership over the land. They were great and mighty in numbers, 104 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 2: so the people of Israel fled from them. The detour 105 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:21,320 Speaker 2: added weeks to their journey. The people of Israel dragged 106 00:07:21,320 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 2: their feet through sand and stone towards Mount Or, which 107 00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 2: overlooked the promised land. God spoke to Moses and Erin. 108 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 2: Gather Erin's people, for this is where his journey ends. 109 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:36,760 Speaker 2: So they took Erin to the peak of Mount Or 110 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 2: to overlook the land flowing with milk and honey. Moses 111 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:45,440 Speaker 2: took Eliazar, Erin's son, with them. Eliazar carried his father 112 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:48,320 Speaker 2: up the mountain, for Arin was old and on the 113 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 2: brink of death. Moses stripped Erin of his priestly clothes 114 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 2: and put them on Eliazar. The three of them sat 115 00:07:56,480 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 2: there for a while, watching the sun set over the land. 116 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 2: Everything shimmered like gold under the descending sunlight. There Beside 117 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 2: his brother and son, Aaron breathed his last breath. The 118 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 2: people of Israel mourned his death for thirty days after. 119 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 3: Today's story finds the Israelites stuck in the wilderness. The 120 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:24,320 Speaker 3: days were long and hot, the sun bearing down upon 121 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:28,679 Speaker 3: their necks. Water was scarce, and their thirst consumed their thoughts. 122 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:33,839 Speaker 3: So the people grew tired and weary, exhausted, And as 123 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:37,439 Speaker 3: we've seen so many times already, it's a recipe for complaints, 124 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:41,920 Speaker 3: and that's exactly what the Israelites did. Complain and complain 125 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:46,160 Speaker 3: some more. They went to Moses and whined, dusting off 126 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:49,240 Speaker 3: the tired argument that we should have never left Egypt. 127 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:54,880 Speaker 3: I can't even imagine Moses's frustration. Moses and Aaron go 128 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 3: to God, knowing that he could bring water from even 129 00:08:57,080 --> 00:09:00,520 Speaker 3: the most unlikely source. God tells Moses to take his 130 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 3: staff and speak gently to the rock. God would bring 131 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:08,960 Speaker 3: water out of the rock for his people. Moses assembles 132 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:12,520 Speaker 3: the people, but I imagine there must have been grumblings in 133 00:09:12,559 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 3: the crowd. More doubts and fears were being sown. These 134 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 3: troublesome children exasperate Moses. I think most parents listening right 135 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:24,600 Speaker 3: now could say I've been there. There are days when 136 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:29,559 Speaker 3: frustration just bubbles over and sin rears its ugly head. 137 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:33,760 Speaker 3: That's what happens with Moses. God called him to speak gently, 138 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:36,920 Speaker 3: but on this day, gentleness, which is in the New 139 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:40,199 Speaker 3: Testament of fruit of the Spirit, is far from Moses' mind. 140 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:43,360 Speaker 3: He speaks harshly to the people, calling them rebels, and 141 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 3: he strikes the rock in anger. Water flows freely, as 142 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 3: God said it would, the people drink to their fill. 143 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:52,960 Speaker 3: But Moses has committed a grave sin in the sight 144 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:58,240 Speaker 3: of God. He directly disobeyed God's instruction, striking the stone 145 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 3: rather than speaking to it. And worse than that, he 146 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:04,320 Speaker 3: seeks out his own personal glory for the miracle that 147 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:07,840 Speaker 3: takes place. Moses knew that he had no power of 148 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:11,040 Speaker 3: his own. This was all the work of God, but 149 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:13,760 Speaker 3: he pois to himself into erin taking the focus off 150 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:17,320 Speaker 3: the God who provides and placing it upon himself. It 151 00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:19,800 Speaker 3: can be tempting to want to take credit for what 152 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:23,240 Speaker 3: God has done, but we always need to remember where 153 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:26,800 Speaker 3: our blessings come from. Not from our own hands or 154 00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:31,560 Speaker 3: our own works, but all blessings, every blessing flows from God, 155 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 3: who provides. For this sin of pride and rebellion, God 156 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:38,520 Speaker 3: tells Moses that he and Erin will not enter the 157 00:10:38,559 --> 00:10:41,880 Speaker 3: Promised Land. Moses will continue to lead to people, but 158 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:44,360 Speaker 3: he will never set foot in the land he's dreamed 159 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:48,320 Speaker 3: of and desired for so long. In this reading, we've 160 00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 3: also heard how the Israelites continued to move searching for 161 00:10:51,400 --> 00:10:54,400 Speaker 3: fertile lands. When they try to pass through Edom to 162 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:57,920 Speaker 3: make their journey easier and shorter, the king there denies 163 00:10:57,960 --> 00:11:02,240 Speaker 3: them entry, and the Israelites fled in fear. This hardship 164 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:05,240 Speaker 3: could certainly have been avoided if they had only believed 165 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:08,679 Speaker 3: God and obeyed him and followed him in the path 166 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:12,560 Speaker 3: to the Promised Land. As we close the story, Aaron 167 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:15,760 Speaker 3: reaches the end of his life. He hadn't been a 168 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:19,760 Speaker 3: perfect servant, but he did serve Moses and God faithfully 169 00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:23,560 Speaker 3: for many years. Aaron finally breathed his last, and though 170 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:29,079 Speaker 3: he never entered Canaan, he entered into eternal rest. Let's pray, 171 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 3: Dear God, thank you for this story that reminds us 172 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:35,560 Speaker 3: that you alone are the giver of every good and 173 00:11:35,640 --> 00:11:39,640 Speaker 3: perfect gift that comes from above. Help us in our 174 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:44,959 Speaker 3: anger and our fears and frustration, to rather exhibit gentleness 175 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:48,080 Speaker 3: and kindness by the work of your spirit in us, 176 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:52,880 Speaker 3: and we pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you 177 00:11:52,920 --> 00:11:55,880 Speaker 3: for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm 178 00:11:56,000 --> 00:12:00,200 Speaker 3: Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download thepray dot com up 179 00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:04,160 Speaker 3: and make Bible reading and prayer the priority of your life. 180 00:12:04,679 --> 00:12:07,280 Speaker 3: If you enjoyed this podcast, share it with someone you 181 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:10,520 Speaker 3: love because by sharing this podcast, you can make a difference, 182 00:12:10,559 --> 00:12:14,319 Speaker 3: a big difference, an eternal difference, in someone else's life. 183 00:12:14,920 --> 00:12:17,360 Speaker 3: And if you want more resources on how to tap 184 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:20,160 Speaker 3: into God's power for your life, be sure to visit 185 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:23,760 Speaker 3: Jack Graham dot org. God bless you.