We all have read the story of Moses and the miracles God performed through him in Egypt, the Red Sea and in the desert.
Moses was great, but without his complete surrender, God could not have used him. His yieldance opened the way for other virtues to work—obedience, prayer, and listening to God's voice, faithfulness, and many others. Moses was human, but he went far beyond the human as he drew near to God. Others can draw as near to God as Moses did if they will allow the Spirit of God to direct their lives. Moses was a great prophet. Jesus Christ is the greater Prophet (Hebrews 3).Various things make Moses a special prophet;
1.He was the most privileged prophet during his times and thereafter because he was a friend to God and they would speak directly, unlike other prophets where the LORD would reveal himself in visions and other ways. This is recorded in the Bible in Deut 34:10-12 "Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,who did all those miraculous signs and wonders the LORD sent him to do in Egypt--to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land.For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.
When Miriam and Aaron criticised Moses and the LORD heard, his anger burned against them, and he gave testimony of this relationship with Moses in Numbers 12:6-8...he said, "Listen to my words: "When a prophet of the LORD is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house.With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?"
2.God had heeded Moses's request to show him his ways. The LORD therefore taught him his ways, while to the Israelites he showed his mighty deeds.There was therefore a sense of familiarity with the LORD.
Psalms 103:7...."He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel"
3. Moses is a sign of the deliverer(Messiah) who is to come later to the people of Israel- Jesus Christ Himself God had promised Moses this in Deuteronomy 18:18.....I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him"
This sign echoes the prophecy of John about the end times when he saw the vision of angels singing the Song of Moses and the Lamb beside the crystal sea in Revelation 15:3...: And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
4. When Moses died, he was buried by God. Deut 34:5-6.....And Moses the servant of the LORD died there in Moab, as the LORD had said.He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is.
That brings me to the big question; what was the sin Moses committed to warrant his death?
Psalms 106:32-33 states that the people angered Moses at the waters of strife, that it went ill with Moses, and that he sinned with his mouth. The incident in question occurred in Numbers 20:7-13. Miriam had just passed on. The very next verse states that the people were complaining about the lack of water. This had happened many times during their wilderness experience. And like the other times, the people railed against Moses and Aaron, whining that they would have been better off if they had stayed in Egypt. Moses and Aaron responded by falling face down. They had also done this several times. Maybe they were tired of hearing the same old complaints, or maybe this was their posture of prayer. In any event, God responded quickly, telling Moses to speak to the rock in front of all the people. Water would come gushing out -- enough water for everyone.
Moses assembled the people, but he didn't follow orders quite the way he should have. Instead of just speaking to the rock, which would have demonstrated the power of the word over the power of his rod, he struck it twice, saying, "Listen, you rebels, shall we get water for you out of this rock?" It almost sounded as though Moses was taking credit for delivering the wateror perhaps the strain of leading the people all those years was finally starting to show. He called them rebels, which in way he was right.. But God did not tell him to do this. Nor was there any mention of God at that point. All seemed directed at Moses and Aaron: "Must we bring water out of this rock? The people were happy, but God was no.Moses took God's glory to himself and Aaron.
Frankly, the punishment just doesn't seem to fit the crime,in human standards. In reading the whole story, Moses was an exemplary leader, the ideal mediator between the people and God, and always faithful to the covenant. One little mistake and he's punished forever! It hardly seems just.
The GREATEST LESSON: God will not allow anyone to take his glory- He is a jealous God. Exodus 34:14....."Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God."
He says.... I am the LORD, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images....Isaiah 42:8 and......." For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it; For how should My name be profaned? And I will not give My glory to another"..Isaiah 48:11
DO NOT DARE TAKE HIS GLORY, ALWAYS WORSHIP AND PRAISE HIM FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE- DO NOT TAKE THE GLORY-REMEMBER YOU ARE JUST MORTAL!!!!!
