QT 16 Mar 12, How do we portray God to those around us?

Num 20:7-13 (NIV) The Lord said to Moses, 8 "Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink."

9 So Moses took the staff from the Lord's presence, just as he commanded him. 10 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?" 11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.

12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them."

13 These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the Lord and where he showed himself holy among them.

NOTE: The command was to "speak to that rock before their eyes." Instead, Moses spoke to the people --"said to them" -- and emphasized his and Aaron's role -- "must we bring you water out of this rock" -- and then "raised his arm and struck the rock with his staff." Moses is challenged by God on two points. One, Moses did not trust God, "because you did not trust me enough." God was testing Moses as well -- would Moses trust God to just speak the words or was some action required on Moses part. Was God's power in the staff or in obedience to God? God also says, "you did not trust me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites." Moses called the Israelites "rebels," which God did not call them. Also, Moses' action did not honor God as holy. The word means to be set apart. Apparently, speaking would have emphasized God's action to provide in a gentle manner, whereas striking emphasized Moses action to provide. Holiness would place God apart from the people but only in action, not in heart, since he loved them. Moses called the people rebels which surely did not induce a feeling of love. Moses struck the rock physically which also does not suggest love but rather power. In all, Moses' portrayal of God is an angry, powerful Lord who is providing water but is tired of the whole thing. God's desire was for Moses to speak to a rock and show God's gentleness and love to a people who had a legitimate need.