As I was reading Numbers 27:18-23, I was struck by something both sobering and powerful. In this passage, God instructs Moses to commission Joshua as the one who will lead the people of Israel into the Promised Land. It’s a bittersweet moment. Moses, the man who led the Israelites out of Egypt, who met with God face to face, would not be the one to complete the journey. Why? Because of disobedience rooted in a lack of trust.
Earlier in Numbers 20, Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to it as God had commanded. On the surface, it may seem like a small act, but to God, it reflected something deeper: a failure to trust His word. God told Moses, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.” (Numbers 20:12)
That’s the hard truth: not trusting God leads to disobedience. When we don’t fully believe that God is who He says He is, or that His ways are best, we take matters into our own hands. We may think we’re doing the right thing, but if it’s not in alignment with God’s voice and instruction, it’s still disobedience.
Moses was a faithful servant, but even he wasn’t exempt from the consequences of distrust. That’s not to say God stopped loving him. In fact, in Numbers 27, God still honors Moses by allowing him to pass on the mantle of leadership and bless the next generation. But it is a reminder for all of us: obedience is rooted in trust.
Trust God, even when His instructions don’t make sense.
Even when the pressure is high and you’re tempted to do things your way. His plans are always greater, and obedience opens the door for blessing.
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