Numbers 27:14 - Rebellion Dishonors God.
Num. 27:14: Rebellion Dishonors God.
Numbers 27:14 (NLT) For you both rebelled against my
instructions in the wilderness of Zin. When the people of Israel rebelled,
you failed to demonstrate my holiness to them at the waters." (These
are the waters of Meribah at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)
Numbers 27:14 (TLB) For you rebelled against my instructions in
the wilderness of Zin. When the people of Israel rebelled, you did
not glorify me before them by following my instructions to order
water to come out of the rock." He was referring to the incident at
the waters of Meribah ("Place of Strife") in Kadesh, in the
wilderness of Zin.
Numbers 27:14 (CWR) I need to do this because you disobeyed me
at Meribah near Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin when you dishonored
me by becoming angry, striking the rock twice and taking credit for
providing the water. You sinned against me in front of the people, so I
must judge you in front of the people.
CONTEXT
Joshua to Succeed Moses (27:12-23)
A Request from Zelophehad's Daughters
A Law of Inheritance
CROSS REFERENCES
Numbers 20:13 (NASB) Those were the waters of Meribah, because
the sons of Israel contended with the LORD, and He proved Himself
holy among them.
Numbers 20:24 (KJV) Aaron shall be gathered unto his people:
for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the
children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of
Meribah.
Leviticus 20:7 (KJV) Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye
holy: for I am the Lord your God.
1 Peter 1:15-16 (KJV) But as he which hath called you is holy,
so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; [16] Because it is
written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
COMMENTARY
When Israel murmured against God and against Moses because they
could get no water, they accused him of leading them out to kill them
and their children. God heard their murmurings and bade Moses speak
to the rock, that the people might have water. Moses smote the rock
in wrath and took the glory to himself. The continual waywardness
and murmuring of the children of Israel had caused him the keenest
sorrow, and for a little time he forgot how much the Lord had borne with
them, and that their murmuring was not against him, but against God.
He thought only of himself, how deeply he was wronged, and how
little gratitude they manifested in return for his deep love for them.
It was God's plan to bring often His people into strait places,
and then in their necessity to deliver them by His power, that they
might realize His love and care for them, and thus be led to serve and
honor Him. But Moses had failed to honor God and magnify His name
before the people that they might glorify Him. In this he brought upon
himself the Lord's displeasure.
When Moses came down from the mount with the two tables of stone
and saw Israel worshiping the golden calf, his anger was greatly
kindled, and he threw down the tables of stone and broke them. I saw that
Moses did not sin in this. He was wroth for God, jealous for His
glory. {EW 163-4}
The juxtaposition of the story of Zelophehad's daughters'
request for an inheritance in the land (vv. 1-11) and the Lord's words
to Moses about his own exclusion from the land (vv. 12-14) is
touching. Provisions are made for exceptions and irregularities in the
inheritance laws, but there is no provision for Moses. His sin at the waters
of Meribah at Kadesh (20:1-13) was always before him. [NIV SB]
WHAT IS GOD TEACHING HERE? WHAT DOES IT TEACH ABOUT JESUS?
Leviticus 20:7 (KJV) Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye
holy: for I am the Lord your God.
1 Peter 1:15-16 (KJV) But as he which hath called you is holy,
so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; [16] Because it is
written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
APPLICATION: HOW TO LIVE IT
John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear
fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except
ye abide in me.
James 4:7-10 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the
devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Draw nigh to God, and he will
draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your
hearts, ye double minded. [9] Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let
your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. [10]
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live;
yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in
the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and
gave himself for me.
Matthew 5:16 (KJV) Let your light so shine before men, that
they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in
heaven.
SOMETHING TO SHARE
After people commit their lives to Christ, they usually still
feel a pull back to their old ways. Peter tells us to be like our
heavenly Father--holy in everything we do. Holiness means being totally
devoted or dedicated to God, set aside for his special use and set apart
from sin and its influence. We're to be set apart and different, not
blending in with the crowd, yet not being different just for the sake of
being different. What makes us different are God's qualities in our
lives. Our focus and priorities must be his. All this is in direct
contrast to our old ways (1:14). We cannot become holy on our own, but
God gives us his Holy Spirit to help us obey and to give us power to
overcome sin. Don't use the excuse that you can't help slipping into sin.
Call on God's power to free you from sin's grip. [Life Application
SB]
Our daily expression of holiness is a reflection of our faith in
Christ. If we have no desire to be holy, we should seriously question
the genuineness of our faith in the Lord Jesus.
Christ not only died to save us from the punishment for our
sins, but also from slavery to sin in this worldly culture. To
continue to live in sin as a Christian is contradictory to the most basic
meaning of Christianity. Christ died to save us from our sins, not to
let us remain in our sins (Mat.1:21; 1Jo.1:6,7). What kind of
person would want to follow Christ and not desire to live a holy
life?...
Holiness, then, is not an option for the believer. Paul wrote
to Titus, "For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of
all men, training us to renounce irreligious and worldly passions,
and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world"
(Tit.2:11,12). Though holiness is not a condition for salvation, it is the
natural consequence of salvation. We do not become holy in order to be
saved, but because we are saved. We do not do good works to get to
heaven, but because heaven has already come into our hearts.
To trust Christ for salvation is to trust him for holiness. If
there is no desire for holiness within, then it is doubtful that the
Holy Spirit has come to dwell within. The Holy Spirit does not save
us without giving us the desire to live a holy life.
[Floyd McClung; Time with God devotional SB]
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