In the 40th year in the desert, Moses made the grave mistake of letting his anger get the best of him.
Numbers 20:1 The people of Isra’el, the whole community, entered the Tzin Desert in the first month, and they stayed in Kadesh. There Miryam died, and there she was buried.
2 Because the community had no water, they assembled themselves against Moshe and Aharon. 3 The people quarreled with Moshe and said, “We wish we had died when our brothers died before YHVH. 4 Why did you bring YHVH’s community into this desert? To die there, we and our livestock? 5 Why did you make us leave Egypt? To bring us to this terrible place without seed, figs, grapevines, pomegranates or even water to drink?” 6 Moshe and Aharon left the assembly, went to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces; and the glory of YHVH appeared to them.
7 YHVH said to Moshe, 8 “Take the staff, assemble the community, you and Aharon your brother; and before their eyes, tell the rock to produce its water. You will bring them water out of the rock and thus enable the community and their livestock to drink.” 9 Moshe took the staff from the presence of YHVH, as he had ordered him. 10 But after Moshe and Aharon had assembled the community in front of the rock, he said to them, “Listen here, you rebels! Are we supposed to bring you water from this rock?” 11 Then Moshe raised his hand and hit the rock twice with his staff. Water flowed out in abundance, and the community and their livestock drank.
12 But YHVH said to Moshe and Aharon, “Because you did not trust in me, so as to cause me to be regarded as holy by the people of Isra’el, you will not bring this community into the land I have given them.” 13 This is M’rivah Spring [Disputation Spring], where the people of Isra’el disputed with YHVH, and he was caused to be regarded as holy by them.
Think about what just happened here. They have been out of Egypt for over 39 years and here they are claiming it was so much better back there. The people could not seem to shake Egypt. Moses’ anger is seemingly justified.
How frustrating must it have been to hear these words come from the same people that had been lovingly sustained for so long. People that should have known better instantly reverted back into a desire for slavery the moment their expectations weren’t met.
Selfish and ungrateful people. Any normal person would likely respond just as Moses did that day.
Besides, Abba’s love and infinite forgiveness should shine forth far beyond our own personal limitations and subsequent mistakes. We serve a God of second chances, right? A God so full of grace that will receive us back time and again. Right?!
Moses thought the exact same thing. Based on what we read in Deuteronomy 3, even he thought that perhaps he should be given another chance:
Deuteronomy 3:23 “Then I pleaded with YHVH, 24 ‘YHVH Elohim, you have begun to reveal your greatness to your servant, and your strong hand — for what other god is there in heaven or on earth that can do the works and mighty deeds that you do? 25 Please! Let me go across and see the good land on the other side of the Yarden, that wonderful hill-country and the L’vanon!’ 26 But YHVH was angry with me on account of you, and he didn’t listen to me. YHVH said to me, ‘Enough from you! Don’t say another word to me about this matter! 27 Climb up to the top of Pisgah and look out to the west, north, south and east. Look with your eyes — but you will not go across this Yarden. 28 However, commission Y’hoshua, encourage him and strengthen him; for he will lead this people across and enable them to inherit the land that you will see.’ 29 So we stayed in the valley across from Beit-P‘or.
No more chances. And that was the end of the story.
As Moses’s life was coming to a close, it became clear that he had finally accepted Abba’s decision:
Deuteronomy 31:1 Moshe went and spoke the following words to all Isra’el: 2 “I am 120 years old today. I can’t get around any longer; moreover, YHVH has said to me, ‘You will not cross this Yarden.’ 3 YHVH your God — he will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations ahead of you, and you will dispossess them. Y’hoshua — he will cross over ahead of you, as YHVH has said. 4 YHVH will do to them what he did to Sichon and ‘Og, the kings of the Emori, and to their land — he destroyed them. 5 YHVH will defeat them ahead of you, and you are to do to them just as I have ordered you to do. 6 Be strong, be bold, don’t be afraid or frightened of them, for YHVH your God is going with you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
So was Moses forgiven? If so, where was the restoration?
We tend to read this narrative and assume he was not restored. But if you read closely, you see that indeed restoration had come. Just not the kind we view as just and right.
Prior to the hitting of the rock, Moses understood his role as an intercessory mediator and walked in that role with boldness and humility. But being griefsticken with the death of his sister, the deep seed of pride was allowed to surface. He was able to exercise discipline over his thoughts and emotions while there was no stress over them but he was caught in a vulnerable moment.
The tide turned when the complainers decided to voice their frustration over their personal needs not being met while Moses was trying to grieve the loss of his sister. How devastating this must have been for him. In his hour of need, the people still considered only themselves.
As this all unfolded before him, Moses then allowed that seed of pride to surface in the ears of the people.
Numbers 20:10 But after Moshe and Aharon had assembled the community in front of the rock, he said to them, “Listen here, you rebels! Are we supposed to bring you water from this rock?”
He made the effort of assembling the people then cast judgment upon them while claiming to be the one responsible for their survival.
But it wasn’t Moses that brought forth the water. It was God.
Moses had confused his role of facilitating with that of being the provider. The assumption communicated was that if it weren’t for Moses, the people would have no water and they would die.
False. The people would die if they did not have God.
Moses had overestimated his role in the people’s survival. Much the same way a farmer assumes he’s in charge of the miracle process from seed to harvest. Sure, the farmer has a job to do overseeing the crop but he isn’t the one that causes the plants to grow. That process belongs to Abba.
So was Moses restored?
Yes, he was.
Deuteronomy 31:3 YHVH your God — he will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations ahead of you, and you will dispossess them.
On the last day of his life, it is clear that Moses was restored back into his former role:
Always pointing the people to God.
Moses was clearly forgiven which is why we see his restoration to his rightful place. Forgiveness was necessary for him to impart the blessing into Joshua. Even though Moses didn’t get the outcome he wanted, Abba did get the outcome He wanted.
So why are we so afraid of forgiveness? Is it because you have put yourself in the place of God Himself and want others to see you as perfect?
Seeking forgiveness is a confession of your not being God. And that is a devastating thought for so many people.
But just think of all those that will come after you that will enter into their God-ordained inheritance.
While forgiving someone may not restore the outcome you initially expected, you are restoring them to their true God-ordained role.
Similarly, you being forgiven does not magically fix the outcome. But it does put you back into the role you were created to occupy.
Worldly outcome is a poor measure of your status in God’s Kingdom. Those bound in unforgiveness will most assuredly crumble under their own judgments.
Everyone we know has made mistakes and sinned in Abba’s eyes. Get over yourself and forgive them.
Likewise, we’ve all made mistakes and sinned in Abba’s eyes. Now it’s time to get over yourself and receive forgiveness.
That does not mean the outcome you want is the outcome you receive. But you will most certainly be placed back into your place of authority in the Spirit.
Today is the day of forgiveness.
Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; 15 but if you do not forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will not forgive yours.
Moses must have forgiven the people for bulldozing their selfishness over him during his time of mourning.
But it doesn’t matter what others do, it only matters what you do.
Luke 6:36 Show compassion, just as your Father shows compassion.
37 “Don’t judge,
and you won’t be judged.
Don’t condemn,
and you won’t be condemned.
“Forgive,
and you will be forgiven.
38 Give,
and you will receive gifts —
the full measure, compacted, shaken together and overflowing, will be put right in your lap. For the measure with which you measure out will be used to measure back to you!”