WHY was Moses not allowed into the Promised Land? What does that tell us?

Probably most of you already know that God did not allow Moses to enter the Promised Land. God used Joshua (or Yehoshua – “Yah is Salvation”) to lead Israel into the promised land, as Jesus (Yeshua) leads us into God’s kingdom.

But could the reasons Moses was forbidden to enter the Land apply to you and me? This story speaks clearly and loudly to all of us who have eyes to see.

First of all, understand that no matter what I say from this point on, know that I recognize Moses as one of the greatest men of faith and men of God in all the Bible. SO don’t misunderstand anything I say.

There were two times that God told Moses what to do so God would bring miraculous torrents of water from a massive rock. The first time (Exodus 17:3-6), Moses was to strike the Rock in the presence of the leaders and elders of Israel. That is significant .

But the second time (Numbers 20:4-6), Moses was to SPEAK to the Rock in the presence of all Israel, but Moses in his hot anger against the Israelites’ bad attitude STRUCK the rock again. Twice. So he disobeyed God, in other words – and more, as we’ll find out.

There’s a huge rock in Saudi Arabia today called Split Rock, and I believe this was the very rock that was split by God. Remember the true Mt Sinai is in ARABIA (Galatians 4:25) – not the so-called “Sinai peninsula.”  Here’s a photo sent to me by a dear brother Michael who was recently there with his wife.

Scripture states plainly the Rock pictured Christ (1 Cor. 10:4). So I will capitalize the word “Rock” – as it points to Jesus.

The FIRST INSTANCE

The first time the freed Israelites leaving Egypt badly needed water, God told Moses to STRIKE the Rock to bring out rivers of water from God. And that first time was done in front of the elders of Israel. Here’s the account.

Exodus 17:3-6    “And the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses, and said, "Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?"

4 So Moses cried out to YHVH, saying, "What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me!"

5 And YHVH said to Moses, "Go on before [or, go on ahead of] the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel. Also take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you [in front of you] there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink."

And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.”

The Rock was Christ, remember (1 Cor. 10:4). This Rock was STRICKEN in front of the elders of Israel. Of course Yeshua, the real Rock, was also STRICKEN by God for our sins (Isaiah 53:3-4, 10). This was also done just before His crucifixion, in front of the elders of Israel: the chief priests, elders and leaders  (Luke 23:13-14; Mark 14:53). God struck or SPLIT the Rock and out came rivers of water.

1 Corinthians 10:4

“and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.”

Jewish tradition says the Rock that produced water actually traveled with them whenever they moved after that. Hmm. Though Paul does say “that Rock that followed them.” Rivers of water burst out of the Rock.

Isaiah 48:21 “And they did not thirst When He led them through the deserts;  He caused the waters to flow from the rock for them; He also split the rock, and the waters gushed out.

Psalms 78:15-16  “He split the rocks in the wilderness,

And gave them drink in abundance like the depths. 16 He also brought streams out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.”

(Add PHOTO of Split Rock in Saudi Arabia here or at the header.)

I find this inspiring personally because our logo for Light on the Rock Ministries is a lighthouse on Lake Superior, Minnesota called, “Split Rock Lighthouse.”  When we selected that picture, I had no idea it was called Split Rock at the time, and only learned of it later. But I find that encouraging.

The first time we come to Yeshua, Jesus the Christ, we come accepting that He was stricken or smitten by God on the cross for our sins. But Christ is not to be crucified – or stricken, twice (Heb. 6:6).

Isaiah 53:4-5  “Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.

5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”

After we accept our stricken Savior, our ROCK, after that we are to come and SPEAK to Him, asking for and accepting His grace. This was what the 2^nd instance, at a different location (Kadesh), was supposed to depict.

SECOND INSTANCE , this one in Kadesh

This second instance was close to Passover, as Num 20:1 says it happened in the first month, which was Abib. This was also very soon before entering the promised land. We’re told that Moses took the rod from before YHVH. This may have been Aaron’s rod that budded that was kept in the ark, though I lean towards thinking this was Moses’ rod. In the first example, it clearly was Moses’ own rod (Ex. 17:5) that he used the first time.

            Moses was to do this in the sight of all Israel and it was supposed to glorify God. Israel was admittedly being very disrespectful to God and Moses and Aaron (verses 2-5).

Numbers 20:1-12  “Then the children of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the Wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh; and Miriam died there and was buried there.

2 Now there was no water for the congregation; so they gathered together against Moses and Aaron. 3 And the people contended with Moses and spoke, saying: "If only we had died when our brethren died before YHVH! 4 Why have you brought up the assembly of YVHV into this wilderness, that we and our animals should die here? 5 And 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."

6 So Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and they fell on their faces. And the glory of YHVH appeared to them.

7 Then YHVH spoke to Moses, saying,  "Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. SPEAK to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals."  So Moses took the rod from before YHVH as He commanded him.

10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels! Must WE bring water for you out of this rock?"

11 Then Moses lifted his hand and STRUCK the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank.

12 Then YHVH spoke to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not BELIEVE ME, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them."

So what’s going on here? Moses did not obey. God says he disbelieved (v 12) God. FULL obedience comes from faith and hearing God’s words – and then BELIEVING and trusting God in faith proven by our obedient ACTIONS (read Hebrew 3 and 4). This is a huge point. Moses was angry and probably was thinking, “Well, the first time I just struck the rock. So I’ll do that again.” 

But this time, after the first strike, nothing happened. Moses had to strike the rock a second time, then God mercifully produced loads of water again for Israel -- and to not further humiliate Moses. This was done in front of all Israel this time, not just in front of the elders.

Moses however took credit for what God would do – when he exclaimed loudly, ‘Must WE bring water for you from this rock?”  (Numbers 20:10).

Whenever God uses us for something – and it works out very well – always give God the glory, whether how well our marriage has worked out, or anything else.

There are several instances of God’s wrath on people who ascribed glory to themselves instead of to God, such as Nebuchadnezzar glorifying himself for the power and beauty of Babylon (Daniel 4:28-37). So this is a great lesson for US too.

Another one was Herod Agrippa, grandson of Herod the Great (Acts 12:21-23), who was eaten by worms due to not giving God the glory.

So the lessons for US include these:

• Always believe, and therefore obey, everything God says. Always.

• Always give God the glory for good things happening in your life. Always. (Numbers 20:12)

• We must never crucify Christ twice. We do not strike the Rock twice. Read Hebrews 6:4-6, especially verse 6. NOW, as beloved brothers and sisters of Christ, we SPEAK to our Savior Yeshua, whose name means Salvation or Savior. We do not strike Him again.

Moses was not allowed to enter the promised Land but no doubt Moses will be in the Kingdom of God. But the spiritual lessons are striking, poignant, and powerful. SPEAK to Yeshua the son of God from now on. And always give God the glory – and never take glory for God’s actions upon yourself.

HalleluYah.