I have utilized the bicycle time several times and have been doing better (although not perfect) in reading "daily". Finding time to blog about the reading continues to be a challenge. Especially since I sometimes do not know where to begin....
The bit about Moses not being able to enter the Promised land because he struck the rock rather than speaking to it scratched my brain even further shortly after I blogged the last time. When I got to work one of the tasks I started with was reading the passages for the up coming Sunday so I could begin preparation for a Children's message. The old testament reading was from Exodus and is a different account of the people complaining against Moses because they are thirsty. In this account God directs Moses to a rock and tells him to hit it with the staff. Moses did that very thing and the rest of the account is much the same, enough water for all the people, their livestock etc. God's provision prevails for the people of Israel yet again. (although they will quickly forget and bellyache and complain again) Anyway, I just kept thinking in my own human way that it explained Moses transgression the next time, at least in my mind, even more. He hit the rock the first time, and so he hit the rock the second time.... makes sense - us being creatures of habit and all. I kept thinking it took Moses off the hook a little more and yet the reality is that it did not. God held Moses accountable for his disobedience. Not obeying exactly was disobedience, not 'imperfect obedience'. There's a difference. In fact according to God imperfect obedience doesn't exist.... As I prayed for understanding about what seems so harsh of a punishment for what seemed to me such a small transgression, especially in light of Moses overall faithfulness, I kept hearing "But I said speak to the rock". Eventually the conversation in my head evolved into current examples of "imperfect obedience" ie disobedience. Times when we rationalize our choices to take us off the hook in our own minds and consciences. I shared this with my Sunday school class and we came up with a whole host of examples.... 'I only cheated a little bit because I didn't have time to do the homework because I was at church and youth group all day' (yeah God it's really your fault I cheated) And God says "I said do not bear false witness" I only blew up at my mom because she accused me of something I really didn't do" and God says "I said to Honor your Mother and Father" I only stole the bread because my family is hungry and God says "I said you shall not steal" I only swore because I stubbed my toe and God says "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth" or "Do not take my name in vain" On and on the examples could be listed where we excuse our lack of obedience and we are reminded that God says what he means and means what he says and his expectation is obedience.
We are sinners that do not get it right more than we do. It is purely out of our love for Him and all that He accomplished for us on the Cross that we strive to make the right choices. And because of His great love for us we are able to rest in His amazing Grace and forgiveness when we get it wrong. And although Moses did not get to go into the Promised land because of his mistake, because of God's promise he remains in THE promised land of Heaven with God for all eternity. That's a better deal anyway.
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