FAITH CAPSULE: Are you one that is giving attention to self instead of giving attention to God’s command?

Exodus 17:1-7, Numbers 20:7-13

Command (word) of God comes with details. The command of God (word of God) cannot be broken but demands to be precisely obeyed. Both times the Israelites lacked water God responded with word of direction through Moses. First time, God commanded Moses, “And the Lord said to Moses, “Go on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel. Also take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.”” (Exodus 17:5-6) Moses obeyed as commanded by God. The second time to meet thirsty of the Israelites God commanded Moses again stating, “Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,  “Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals.” (Numbers 20: 7-8)
At the first attempt to get water the word of God directed Moses to strike the rock while the second time called for speaking to the rock. Moses followed God’s command by striking the rock. The second time Moses failed struck the rock instead of God’s direction for him to speak. The bible recorded that, “Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank. Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” (Numbers 20:11-12)
Striking is not same as speaking. Failure to fully obey is an avenue to self-destruction. He is a God that must be fully obeyed in His direction not in our own desire. Have you been playing God instead of placing God’s word precisely before the fellowship of His people? Are you one that is paying attention to self rather than paying attention to His command? Moses was a giant in the hand of God; he was a man of great exploit by virtue of God’s calling but he missed out of God’s Promised Land on account of the children of Israel. To man, Moses did all that was enough to get him through to the Promised Land. To God, he missed it on account of the children of Israel. Be accountable and not count yourself out through disobedience.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to be constantly obedient to God and not to self.