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When we think of Moses we think of a man of God who always obeyed the Lord and was blessed accordingly. Wrong on both accounts. In our devotional passage Moses reminds the children of Israel that their grumbling and complaining about a lack of water (Numbers 20:1-13) created a situation in which he apparently lost his temper and disobeyed God. He was told by God to speak to the rock and it would bring forth water. Out of frustration he over-reacts and strikes the rock twice. God immediately confronts him with his sin and tells him that his disobedience will result in his not being allowed to lead the Israelites into the promised land.

Moses who so often had interceded successfully for others with regard to their sin and had obtained forgiveness, was unable to secure divine permission to enter the promised land. Like a parent speaking to a whining child God says, "Enough! Speak to me no more of his matter." (vs. 26) God goes on to say that Moses can view the land from the mountain top but he can't cross over the Jordan.

Imagine the let down that Moses feels. Imagine the disappointment m having your life goal at the tip of your fingers and not being able to reach out and take it.

Moses learned the hard way that God means what He says and that when we disobey Him we have to expect consequences. And yet what a great man of God Moses was in accepting his punishment and going on to do what he could to prepare his successor, Joshua. About this time he also wrote Deuteronomy which comes from a Greek word meaning, "second law" or "repetition of the law". After nearly 40 years of wandering in the wilderness a new generation needed to be oriented to the covental relationship that they had with God. He explained the terms of the covenant and its indispensable condition of obedience. In spite of his own personal and professional disappointment in life he did all that he could to obey God and further His Kingdom among men. What a great example for us! How do we handle the disappointments of life that come our way? Do we get angry and frustrated which leads to grumbling and complaining or do we accept what comes our way in life and make the best of it knowing that "all things work together for good for those who love God". (Romans 8:28)

What is the Lord trying to communicate to us from this story about Moses? I think He wants us to realize that we can't always have things our way. We often times have to accept situations that we would rather not have come our way.

Parents, talk to your children about your disappointments in life; a job promotion that went to someone else; an honor or award that went to someone else when in fact you were more deserving; about losing a loved one through death or some other kind of separation. Also think about how the Lord was with you through it all and helped you cope with the pain and bitterness so that you could go on and continue to walk by faith.

Spend time in prayer to God about your desires for the future and also in thanksgiving for the blessings of the past. Remember that disappointments in life come and go but God always remains the same.

Jim Leadabrand