The Danger of Not Displaying Faith in the Power of God

Numbers 20 tells the story of how Moses and Aaron failed to sanctify God before the people of Israel when they struck the rock that God said should be spoken to for water for the people.

Israel's problem has always been unbelief in the word and power of God. Its stubbornness and disbelief in the face of Jehovah's many displays of power and wonder is a tribute to the power of sin in our hearts.

Rather than cry out to God, Who had shown Himself powerful and gracious so often before, Israel complained against Moses and Aaron. Wisely, they cried out to God for the people, and God promised water from the rock that was spoken to.

But Moses and Aaron struck the rock instead. God's Word says that they were judged because they did not believe God's Word and did not sanctify Him before the people.

Rather than direct the people to God's Word and Promise, they brought attention to themselves, to their anger with the people, and to a spirit of hardness against God's people. By doing so, they discouraged the People's hope in God, and failed to display His grace and His power toward them. Thereby, Moses and Aaron encouraged them in ungratefulness and unbelief against their God.

How often Believers today fail to call upon God for help. We fail to recall His prior marvelous acts, and are ashamed to cry out publicly to Him for fear He will not answer. Thereby we miss opportunities to display faith in His power before the world.

How often we are discouraged from preaching the Gospel because we don't believe that God's Word has the Power to Save! The Word will not do - we must add gimmicks and worldly methods, when God says that His Gospel has all the power.