When the Direction is "Don't"
I so want to do it. Pick up the phone; type that text. Waiting is making me uncomfortable. I want an answer.
But I can’t do what I want to do or I guess I should say I’m choosing not to. There is this little nudge. Not very big, yet I am familiar with it. The nudge, who I have learned after many, many years is the Holy Spirit, whispers to my heart, “Don’t do it. I’ve got this.” I want to ignore the nudge; tell myself it’s only me and not Him. But the directions are clear. Don’t.
In Numbers 20, Moses and Aaron were also dealing with a situation making them uncomfortable. The people they were leading were grumbling…again. They wanted water. Moses and Aaron set a great example on how to handle troublesome situations, “Moses and Aaron went from the the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them.”(v. 6)
Moses and Aaron’s first response to this situation was humility; going to God. God then gave them clear direction on how He wanted them to handle their problem. Go and speak to a rock and it would pour out water. The men set out to obey.
The problem came in the working out of that obedience. It would appear that in the transition from speaking to God to speaking to the people, anger replaced humility.
“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.” (v.9-11)
Struck the rock? That’s not what God said to do. His instructions were “speak to the rock”. Moses obeyed, but he didn’t do what God said God’s way.
For not obeying, Moses had a price to pay. He was kept back from entering into the land he had been leading the people to. What a heavy price!
Like Moses, I have been tempted, when my anxiety rises, to obey God, but side step the exact details. My mind says, “He told you not to text her, but you could email her assistant.” If I listen to that voice, I might find myself following it and missing a blessing God is preparing for me.
Emotional actions come with a high price tag.
Moses’ anger cost him seeing the fruit from his life’s work. Not only did it cost Moses, those around him paid too. (Numbers 20:24)
I know you are tempted to get ahead of God, to help Him out or to follow those emotional urges. Let’s be wise women and learn from Moses. When we obey God God’s way, we make a way to receive His blessings.
****Congratulations the winner of Magnetic: Becoming the Girl He Wants from Wednesday’s post Cover or Expose is Ginger who posted March 18, 2015 at 8:34 am. Ginger, please email me your full name and address and I’ll get it sent right out!
Good reminder of the importance of completely obedience.