Speak or Strike
“So Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill.”
Numbers 20:11 (NLT)
Moses had a clear instruction from God: to speak to the rock. However, in a moment of anger and exhaustion, he ended up striking it. Although the water came out and the people were satisfied, Moses’ disobedience had serious consequences. This passage reminds us of the importance of detailed obedience, controlling our emotions, and not becoming so accustomed to past methods that we forget to listen to what God wants to do today.
- Obeying in the details
God told Moses: “Take the staff, and speak to the rock” (Numbers 20:8). Moses assumed the rest. Many times, we think we know how to do things because it worked a certain way before, but God wants to teach us something new. Partial obedience is disobedience. We need to pay close attention to the details of God’s instructions. - Deciding with a peaceful heart
Moses was angry when he shouted at the people: “Listen, you rebels!” (Numbers 20:10). His anger led him to act with violence instead of trust. When our emotions take control, we risk making poor decisions. God wants us to act from faith, not from frustration. - The staff is not always for striking
Moses had used the staff before to strike the sea, the ground, and a rock. But this time God wanted a different act: to speak. The problem is that we tend to repeat past habits without discerning whether in this season God is asking us for something different. What is new is not always achieved with the same tools. - Authority in the Kingdom is different
In the world, the “staff” of authority is used to dominate, manipulate, or impose. In God’s Kingdom, the rod and the shepherd’s staff are for guiding, protecting, and comforting (Psalm 23:4). Spiritual leadership is not exercised by striking, but by caring, teaching, and encouraging. - Speaking instead of striking
God wanted to show that faith and the word were enough to produce miracles. The people needed to learn that true authority is not in man’s strength, but in the power of God’s word.
“So Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill.”
Numbers 20:11 (NLT)
Think About It:
- In what areas of my life do I need to clarify God’s instructions so I don’t make wrong assumptions?
- Am I making decisions under the influence of emotions such as anger, fear, or frustration?
- Do I use my authority to encourage and guide, or to control and strike those under my care?