I remember several years ago we were reading a devotional from the Today booklet; I was reminded of the importance of doing things God’s way. The meditation centered on Moses striking the rock to get water for the Israelites, as recorded in Numbers 20:1–13. As you may remember, this was the second time God provided water through a rock. The first time, Moses was instructed to strike the rock with his staff. This time, however, God gave him specific instructions to speak to the rock.
In Numbers 20:8 (ESV), “Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle.”
By this time, Moses had become so frustrated with the Israelites that he allowed his emotions to get the better of him. He gathered the people together and angrily addressed them as rebels, questioning whether he and Aaron would have to bring water out of the rock. Instead of speaking to the rock as God had commanded, Moses struck it twice with his staff. Water gushed out, providing for the people and their livestock.
Wow! What power! But there was a problem. Moses had disobeyed God. Even though God graciously provided water, Moses and Aaron were about to learn a difficult lesson. In Numbers 20:12 (ESV), the Lord told them that because they had failed to believe Him and uphold Him as holy before Israel, they would not be permitted to lead the people into the Promised Land.
Can you believe it? After everything Moses had been through, he would not be permitted to enter the Promised Land. That seems like a pretty severe punishment, doesn’t it? The writer of the meditation put it this way:
“Why such harsh punishment? Because God was giving the people the water. The rock represented God’s provision and grace. Moses struck out at it. He let his pain get in the way of God’s grace to others. He also talked as if he were God, as if the water were from him.”
That raises an important question. Do we ever allow our pain, frustrations, excitement, joy, or even the lack of joy to get in the way of God’s grace reaching others? Do we become so concerned about what we want that we forget what God wants?
I think particularly of worship. How do we conduct ourselves when we gather together to worship God? Are we worshiping according to His Word, or are we more concerned about having things done our way? I am often reminded of Frank Sinatra’s song, My Way. Remember the words, “I did it my way”? That may make for a popular song, but is that how we should approach worship? Do we worship God His way or our way? The results of insisting upon our own way can sometimes be disastrous, you know.
If you remember back in Leviticus, God gave Moses specific instructions concerning the duties of the priests. Aaron and his sons had been ordained as priests and instructed how to conduct themselves before the Lord and His people. These instructions were not to be taken lightly.
In Leviticus 9:23–24 (ESV), “And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.”
What a wonderful demonstration of God’s presence and glory! But something very different happened almost immediately afterward. In Leviticus 10:1–2 (ESV), “Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.”
Moses then reminded Aaron of what the Lord had declared:
Leviticus 10:3 (ESV), “Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.”
Think about that for a moment. In chapter 9, fire came from the Lord and consumed the offering, demonstrating God’s approval. In chapter 10, fire came from the Lord and consumed the two men who had offered unauthorized fire. What a tremendous contrast! Their failure was not simply about fire or incense. It was about failing to honor God through obedience.
And that brings us to the crux of the matter. God is holy, and those who approach Him must recognize and honor His holiness.
When we gather together to worship, will that be the case? We will worship this weekend, won’t we? But whom are we really seeking to please? Are we approaching God with hearts that recognize His holiness, or are we more concerned about satisfying our own desires? Different churches may have different styles of worship, but regardless of the style, our worship must honor God and be consistent with His Word.
Perhaps we need to remind ourselves that worship is not primarily about us. It is about God. It is not about what makes us feel good or what satisfies our preferences. It is about coming before a holy God and giving Him the honor, praise, and glory, He deserves.
As you prepare to worship, think about it. Make sure you are in a place where the Lord is properly worshiped, where His holiness is recognized, His Word is honored, and His grace can flow unhindered by our wants, desires, or attempts to manipulate things to suit ourselves. But perhaps even more importantly, make sure your own heart is prepared to worship Him.
After all, isn’t that what worship is supposed to be about? Not doing things my way, but doing things God’s way.
In Christ
David “PK” VanderKlay
