Wrong Thing, Right Results

Message Text

Numbers 20:2-13

Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. They quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!” Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. The Lord said to Moses, “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.” So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him. He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. 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.” These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the Lord and where he was proved holy among them.

Message Notes

1. Not every season is harvest season.

If we confuse seasons our expectations will cause frustration in our lives. Not every season is a harvest season.

2. I’ve been here before.

Exodus 17:1-7

The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.”Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?” 3 But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?” 4 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.” 5 The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

It would be a mistake to assume that every similar circumstance requires the same response.

Our relationship with God is not one to be put on autopilot. It’s not an algorithm that is put in place to produce the same results.

3. A new experience needs new attention.

Are we listening past the circumstances?

Moses just lost his sister, people are grumbling, he is frustrated and angry, yet he is responding the same way in this situation as he did 38 years ago. While the circumstances seemed similar God wanted to do something different through him.

4. The wrong thing can get the right results.

Moses strikes the rock instead of speaking to it. He proved the right results but got there the wrong way. The end never justifies the means. God wanted him to do it His way. Obedience is better than sacrifice.

Connect Group Questions

  1. What is wrong with expecting the same thing from every season in life?
  2. Do you ever find yourself on autopilot when making decisions?
  3. Why is it dangerous to respond the same way every time?
  4. Discuss some ways we can be more attentive to what God is saying to us in our specific situations?
  5. The details of what God says to us are important. How can we be better at hearing His voice?
  6. How can we know if we are getting the right results the right way?