BY DAWN REED
My favorite thing is when the Lord speaks tenderly through His Word. Alive and active (Hebrews 4:12), He gently leads, encourages, and directs.
My not favorite thing is when the white-hot tip of the Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) pierces and convicts me all the way to the bone marrow.
Such was the case when we began our latest study in Sunday School. The plan was to help high school students manage their anger effectively. Not me. Our focus was on recognizing warning signs and on quick, simple reactions/responses to keep us from acting like we are insane and don’t know Jesus.
Last Sunday, we studied Moses and the Israelites. He had his hands full leading the people out of Egypt and through the desert.
They cried in fear when they faced the Red Sea. They grumbled because they were thirsty. They complained when they were hungry. Some became jealous because God was using Moses, and they were not. While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments, they grew tired of waiting and made an idol from their jewelry. Time after time, God came to the rescue – and usually in a spectacular way.
Yesterday, I was rereading the story in Numbers 20. Still in the desert, the people were once again without water. They quarreled with Moses, as they were prone to do. He and Aaron went to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell facedown. The LORD told Moses to take the staff and gather the people together, “Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water.” Not just a little water, but enough for the whole community AND their livestock.
Moses took the staff – as the LORD had commanded. He gathered the assembly together – as the LORD had commanded. But this day, Moses had had enough. Nearly 40 years of frustration were coming to a head. “Listen, you rebels,” he began, “must we bring you water out of this rock?” Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.
It had been a long and difficult journey. There were victories, but so many battles – some within, some without. “Must we bring you water out of this rock?” Moses had asked. “We” … not “the LORD.” Somewhere along the way, Moses had forgotten his place. That’s where the Word of God penetrated to my soul and spirit.
I have been frustrated lately about change at work. Not bad change, just change. I pray, read my Bible, carry verses in my pockets, and still I’ve been dragging my Crocs into the day, hoping to keep my cool. Reading the verses in Numbers 20, I realized, like Moses, somewhere along the way, I had forgotten my place. I didn’t hit anything, but I had been getting angry at circumstances, focusing more on myself and what I wanted or thought best.
Moses’ anger cost him. Striking the rock instead of speaking to it was not what the LORD said to do. Because of his disobedience, Moses would not enter the Promised Land.
When we react in anger, it can have consequences. When we speak in anger, it can deeply wound others, causing harm. Even if we keep it in, it weighs on our minds; we feel guilt, regret. Sometimes we can just be angry with ourselves.
God still loved Moses. He still loves me when I overreact. I am thankful that God can help us daily with our struggles.