4.45am
Awake, rummaged in bed and sighed deeply. The sub-conscious thoughts became conscious. When God when? Why God why? Please explain to me the purpose of this? Let me understand this season of my life.
4.48am
Got up, went to the bathroom. Got back into bed, unable to sleep. The questions kept rolling: why, when, what?
This had been the routine for the past few months, I have so many questions yet very few or I daresay, insufficient/unsatisfying answers. Prayed and worshipped in tongues and handed the day over to God, to lead and direct me as he wills.
I prayed in my understanding. Father, there is no unrighteousness in you, and it is impossible for the most high to do wickedness. You said Jesus was exalted above his peers because he loves righteousness and hated wickedness so I know Jesus also cannot do wickedly, nor, the Holy Spirit, who is the 3rd witness. So, send your Spirit today to teach and lead me into your truth for my life. Not by my might or power, but by your Spirit can I get into the truth of your purpose, your master plan for my life. Lord, I cannot fail a subject I understand, show me your purpose for my life so I can fulfil it and understand what race I am called to run. Why am I on earth? What is your plan for me? Teach me either from your word or speak to me directly. Give me an instruction so my life will be preserved.
After I’ve had breakfast, when I was at peace and he could reach me or should I say, I could hear him. Very softly, the Holy Spirit replied. My daughter, study Hebrews 3.
Study, not read? Whoa, all plans to go out cancelled.
Carefully opened my parallel bible (NIV and Message) and true to form, the Spirit taught and guided me into all truth. Has anyone won an argument against God? Job didn’t and certainly, not me. As he opened the words to me a wave of holy fear and shame rushed over me and the resulting effect of holy humility was not far fetched.
In a futile attempt, I tried to recount my thoughts and questions, seriously hoping there will be marked difference between myself and the Israelites in the wilderness of Sinai, sadly, there was none or the little there was, is statically insignificant.
In studying Hebrews 3, you will invariably be led to Psalm 95; Exodus 17; Numbers 20; Deuteronomy 6: 16 and, 1 Corinthians 10.
Synopsis
On the way to Canaan (a place of rest, divine abundance), the first generation Israelites journeyed in stages through the wilderness of Sinai, as commanded by God. They got to Rephidim and as commanded by God, encamped there. However, there was no water in Rephidim and the people contended with Moses, questioning God’s wisdom or purpose in bringing them to a place where there is no full abundance/provision to meet their needs.
We may be in the way of God’ s master plan for our lives, yet may meet with challenges, which Providence brings us into, for the trial of our faith, and that God may be glorified in our liberation.
However, due to this apparent want, they began to question whether God was with them or not. This action means tempting God, it signifies distrust of him after they had received such proofs of his power and goodness (they had crossed the red sea, seen their enemies died when they attempted to cross the sea with them, being fed with manna, had the pillar of fire and cloud following them, etc. These weren’t enough, God’s mercies and wonders had become common).
Such a state of sinful independence, such a rebellion of the soul against its Savior, such murmurings (soft spoken words or words slightly inferring God is unrighteous), the voice of God condemns in every page of the gospel.
Moses mildly answered them. It is folly to answer passion with passion; that makes a bad situation worse. God graciously appeared to help them.
How wonderful the patience and forbearance of God toward provoking sinners! That he might show his power as well as his pity, and make it a miracle of mercy; he gave them water out of a rock. God can open fountains for us where we least expect them.
I admonish whoever is in this wilderness state today to keep to God's way, trust him to provide for you. Also, let this direct us to depend on Christ's grace. Paul said in 1Corinthians 10:4 that the Rock was Christ. While the curse of God might justly have been executed upon our guilty souls, behold the Son of God is smitten for us.
Rephidim means spreading or support but in remembrance, a new name was given to the place: Massah / Meribah. The remembrance was not of the mercy of their supply or of God’s generosity, but of the sin of their murmuring and strife with Moses. Sin leaves a blot upon a name.
Moving on, remember the Israelites journeyed in the wilderness for 40 years, actually, circled around the wilderness, as God was purging the people that will enter into his rest, Canaan?
So, the 2nd generation Israelites got to the wilderness of Sinai and camped in Kadesh (for Moses and Aaron, this was familiar territory, the miracle of the moving rock took place just some short distance away). Again, providence was at work. There was no water for the congregation.
We live in a wanting world, and wherever we are, must expect to meet with something to put us out. It is a great mercy to have plenty of water. Hereupon they murmured against Moses and Aaron. They spoke the same absurd and brutish language their fathers had done. It made their crime the worse, that they had smarted so long for the discontent and distrusts of their fathers, yet they venture in the same steps. Moses must again, in God's name, command water out of a rock for them; God is as able as ever to supply his people with what is needful for them.
But Moses and Aaron acted wrong, they spoke unadvisedly with their lips. They took much of the glory of this work of wonder to themselves; they asked the people, must we fetch water? As if it was done by their power or self worthiness. They were to speak to the rock, but they smote it. Therefore God charged them that they did not sanctify or reverence him, that is, they did not give to him alone that glory of this miracle which was due unto his name.
Once smitten at Rephidim, Christ, the rock, did not need to be smitten or crucified, again. To smite the rock twice was to imply that Christ's death on the cross was not effectual or sufficient for time and eternity. Possibly Moses was not aware of the significance of what he had been ordered to do, but nevertheless God held him responsible for not obeying Him exactly. Obedience to His will is vitally important, whether we understand His purpose or not. The motto "God's will: nothing more; nothing less; nothing else; at any cost" would have been priceless to Moses and Aaron that day, if they had only followed it.
The same thing could happen to us. We must be on guard so that we never get caught up in wanting our own way as they did. We must never try to get Christ to serve us instead of us serving him; they tried it, and God launched an epidemic of poisonous snakes. We must be careful not to stir up discontent; discontent destroyed them.
These are all warning markers in our history books, written down so that we don't repeat their mistakes. Our positions in the story are parallel, they at the beginning, we at the end, and we are just as capable of messing it up as they were. Don't be so naive and self-confident. You're not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it's useless. Cultivate God-confidence.
No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it.
The call to give God thanks in all things and at all times became very real to me at this point, particularly, when I pondered what made Moses, the meekest man on earth, to miss getting into Canaan.
So, my very dear friends, when you see people reducing God to something they can use or control, particularly, through vain questions or efforts, get out of their company as fast as you can.
Or, you find yourself questioning persistently about a situation- why don’t I have this? Stop and rebuke that spirit. Remember, sin is deceitful; it comes disguised in various bright apparels.
