“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together thou, and Aaron thy brother and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.”
Numbers 20:7-8
After the Lord had delivered the Israelites out of Egypt with many mighty signs and wonders, including the parting of the Red Sea, they faced new challenges. Yet with every challenge, God provided a miracle. In the above scripture, they were again lacking water and began complaining to Moses and Aaron that they would die in the desert. The first time they needed water, God had Moses strike the rock and the water gushed out. This time, Moses was commanded to speak to the rock. However, Moses being frustrated with the Israelites lack of faith, acted hastily and struck the rock in anger, instead of speaking to it. He disobeyed God’s command and acted in anger, purely on his emotions. As a result, he was not allowed to enter the promised land.
God was very specific in what He directed. The rock represented Jesus. Jesus was struck down and died only once for our sins. He was then raised again and from that point on salvation entered the world. We now could become children of God by our faith in Christ. We would be made new. This is why the second time they needed water, Moses was to speak to the rock only and the water would flow.
Throughout the scriptures we are commanded to decree, to speak to our mountain. (see Mark 11). In Mathew 8, the Centurion was credited with having great faith for telling Jesus to speak the Word only and his servant would be healed. Sure enough, Jesus spoke the Word and his servant was healed that same hour.
We need to learn to speak to our circumstances. Speak the word of life, the word of God regarding our mountains. Command the mountain to be removed. Take your authority through your words. Do not be like Moses in this situation and act out in frustration. Choose to speak the word instead of acting on your emotions. We must guard against the temptation of the flesh to do things our own way and in our own might. Throughout the day we need to listen to what the Lord is telling us and to handle each and every situation the way that He directs. In John 14:10 Jesus says: “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.”
Jesus never spoke anything on His own. He only said what He heard His Father say, and then the Father did the works. This is where miracles live. When we do exactly as God directs us, instead of trying to solve it in our own might and own way. We must learn to listen closely to what God is telling us to do, and then to speak only what He directs us to speak.
In the world the “quick witted” response is treated with value. However, God’s way of doing things is different. There are times He may tell you not to respond at all. Other times, He may have you wait to respond. We must learn to be directed by the Holy Spirit. The enemy will put pressure on us to try to get us to act hastily. However, as we learn to “Be Still and Know That He is God” (see Psalm 46), we can truly have the perfect response. God will always give us the words to say for every situation. As we learn to develop the fruit of the spirit of self-control, we will find that we have victory in everything that we do. As we use that self-control to not act in haste or do things according to how we feel, and instead have the patience and wisdom to wait for God to direct us, we will win every time.
Further reading: John 14, Mathew 8, John 6:63, Psalm 46, Mark 11, Job 22:28, Proverbs 19:21, Jeremiah 10:23, Psalm 32:8, Isaiah 58:11, Isaiah 48:17, Proverbs 16:1, Psalm 119:105, Philippians 2:13, Proverbs 3:5-6, John 16:13, Isaiah 55:8-9, Isaiah 30:21, Proverbs 21:2, Psalm 25:12
