Anger: To Sin or Not To Sin

Numbers 20:1-13

Moses and Aaron had to put up with a lot of complaining, grumbling, rebellion, and abuse from the Israelites.  The people were never satisfied with what they had or what God gave them. 

Moses and Aaron stood between the people and God on many occasions.  They fell on their faces and asked God not to wipe out the entire nation.  Each time God answered their prayers.  He punished the guilty in that instant, but did not destroy the entire population.

By the time they got to Kades, Moses was fed up.  The people again grumbled because of lack of water.  They said they should have died with the rebels at God's hand rather then die of thirst in the wilderness.

Again, Moses and Aaron went before the Lord on behalf of the people.  God once again answered.  He told Moses and Aaron to speak to a rock and command it to bring forth enough water to satisfy the people and their cattle.

In his anger, Moses disobeyed and hit the rock.  The water still flowed and the people were satisfied, however, Moses and Aaron were sentenced to die in the wilderness, rather then to enter the promised land. 

To our minds this seems pretty harsh!  Moses had not chosen to lead the Israelites. He had not asked for this assignment.  As a matter of fact, he had done his best, used every excuse in book to get out of leading them.

Why then would a loving God punish him for a momentary laps in judgement? Why, after convincing Moses to take on the daunting assignment and after Moses' faithfulness to stand in the gap for the people on numerous occasions, would God sentence him to miss the "Big Event"?  Why? Because Moses sinned.  He acted on his anger by disobeying God's command.  While speaking to the rock and striking it may not seem so different. Water come out anyway.  In God's eyes they were different because to be HOLY we must be OBEDIENT even in the smallest areas.

No one can fault Moses for being angry enough to hit just about anything or anyone.  Moses was human just as we are.  He faced hardship just as we do. But sin is sin and our HOLY God cannot over look it.

How often do we become angry and sin?  Anger is not the sin.  The sin comes from how we handle the anger.  In Ephesians 4:26, we are admonished not to sin by letting anger control us.  Anger is a natural emotion God has placed within all of us.  We must learn how to rely on the Holy Spirit for strength and grace to handle our anger without sinning.