Don’t strike the rock

““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.” So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him. 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?” Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. 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.” These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the Lord and where he was proved holy among them.”

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭20:8-13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Moses was told to speak to the rock, but out of his own frustration with the people of Israel he acted harshly and was disobedient to the Lord. He wasn't thinking about what the Lord wanted, he did not trust God to know what was going on. Moses didn't let the Lord show his gentleness, care, and compassion to provide or His desire for relationship and communication over force. The Lord is a loving God. You only need to ask, he is not harsh, or absent, or neglectful, but if you take it upon yourself to disobey, disbelieve, judge, or condem you invite judgement on yourself as well.

““In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:14-15‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Let the Lord deal with other's unbelief or you might miss entering into your promise. You won't lose salvation but you might not receive your full blessing either because you have taken up something you are not meant to hold. The Lord is gracious and loving and forgiving. If you find yourself in a place of unforgiveness or bitterness or judging others repent, lay it before the Lord and let Him work on your heart to bring healing in that area.

I was sitting before the Lord in my quiet time one day praying over unforgiveness I had held onto despite trying to let it go. He revealed to me a glimpse of myself sitting in His glory. I could see it shining over my whole body except my left arm. From my shoulder down it was completely missing. In the natural I knew it was still there but I also had a knowing that what I was seeing was a true representation of me carrying unforgiveness. It was like my arm had been cut off. The Lord revealed that unforgiveness cannot be in His presence. If I chose to hold on to that then I could not be fully in his presence. The knowledge that even a piece of me would be cut from Him is overwhelming. From that moment I repented and have tried to bring everything that might come between me and the Lord before Him. I want to fully dwell in the radiance and goodness of the Lord.

“I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34:4-10‬

“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care, and their inheritance will endure forever. In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever.

The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just. The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip.

Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace.

The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37:3-4, 18-19, 23-24, 27, 30-31, 37, 39‬

“How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.

Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty; listen to me, God of Jacob. Look on our shield, O God; look with favor on your anointed one. Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭84:1-2, 4, 8-12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Bring what you are holding on to into the light and let the Lord heal you and tend to you tenderly. When you shelter the wound and keep it out of sight you only prevent it from healing. Life is full of offense and hurts, but you don't have to let it keep you cut off from the Lord. He came for the broken hearted and hurting. He came to heal your wounds, but you have to let Him see.

I pray the words and wisdom of Solomon over the in Jesus' name,

““Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake us. May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors. And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day’s need, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other. And may your hearts be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.””

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭8:56-61‬

Amen.

If you find yourself hurting or struggling with offense or unforgiveness John Bevere's The Bait of Satan is an absolute must read for spiritual health and healing.