Deut. 32:48-52 - Then the Lord spoke to Moses that very same day, saying: "Go up this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, across from Jericho; view the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel as a possession; and die on the mountain which you ascend, and be gathered to your people, just as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people; because you trespassed against Me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin, because you did not hallow Me in the midst of the children of Israel.
What a day this must have been for Moses. I wonder what was going through his mind as he heard the Lord of Glory speaking these words to him. I wonder if these words penetrated his heart and caused him to regret what he had done at Kadesh.
We find Moses' error in Numbers chapter 20. The children of Israel had just been delivered from Egyptian bondage. They were in the Wilderness of Zin in Kadesh. There was no water for them to drink, so they began murmuring and complaining to Moses. In verse 5, they say, "Why have you made us come up out of Egypt, to bring us to this evil place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink."
No one "made" the children of Israel come up out of Egypt. They were the ones who had cried out to the Lord for deliverance. They were not happy in Egypt. They were slaves to Pharoah. They were commanded to work hard and laborious hours. They despised it, and cried out to the Lord for help. The Lord responded to their prayers, and sent Moses as their deliverer. God brought them out of Egypt with a "mighty" hand! They ended up in the Wilderness of Zin.
Most of us do not appreciate the "wilderness experiences" that God allows to come into our lives to equip us for what is ahead. We love the mountaintop experiences and the taste of victory, but we must have an understanding of the wonderful work that is accomplished in the wilderness experiences that come our way. There is usually a "wilderness crossing" before each Promised Land entrance.
Moses prayed to the Lord regarding the situation they were facing in Kadesh, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. The Lord spoke to Moses and told him to "speak" to the rock and it would bring forth water for the people. Instead of speaking to the rock, as the Lord had commanded Moses, he struck the rock twice with his rod. The Lord brought forth water even though Moses disobeyed.
God is a merciful God. When we are faithless, He remains faithful. That does not mean that we should continue to sin and rebel against Him. The Lord will deal with sin. The Lord was merciful to the children of Israel and to Moses. He gave them water supernaturally, even though they did not deserve it. How many times have we been disobedient to the Lord, and He has still granted our request? How many times have we not deserved anything from the Lord, yet, in His mercy, He poured out His love upon us?
As a result of Moses' disobedience, the Lord told him that he would not be the one to bring the children of Israel into the land which He had given them. I'm sure Moses felt discouraged and upset with himself after this endeavor.
In Deuteronomy chapter 32, the Lord tells Moses to go up to the mountain and "view" the land of promise. He was not allowed to enter the land. He was only allowed to view it from afar off, because of his disobedience.
How many of us have had to view our promised lands from afar off, because we were not obedient to the Lord? How many of us have felt the grief and anquish that this entails as we have looked at the land that we could have possessed, if we would have only responded to Him with obedient action? How many times have we "missed it"?
I wonder if Moses wept as he viewed the promised land from afar. I wonder what was going through his mind at that time. Maybe he was saying, "If I would have been obedient, things would be different. If I would have spoken to the rock like the Lord told me, things would be different." Have you ever had the "what if" sydrome? Have you ever wanted to kick yourself, because you did wrong in His sight? Of course you have. We have all fallen short of what God has for us, but we do not have to remain in that place of defeat and agony.
Do not allow sin to keep you from entering into your promised land. God has abundant supply waiting for you. God has a land that he wants you to go in and possess. Don't allow disobedience to keep you out. God wants to move in your life. He wants you to possess the land! He wants you to drive out the enemies that now possess the land, and go in with holy boldness proclaiming the victory! Don't allow sin to keep you out. Allow obedience to take you in!
Are you willing to do things Gods' way? Are you willing to be obedient to the Lord, so that His promises to you can be fulfilled? If so, you will be blessed and possess your Promised Land!
Yet you shall see the land before you, though you shall not go there, into the land which I am giving to the children of Israel."
