parkerslope

God told Moses to speak to the rock and water would come out. Moses struck the rock twice and said, "Must we bring forth water from this rock." Moses was angry and his anger pushed him to be arrogate and he took any glory that God should receive and took it himself. Anger, hurt, frustration, pride, and revenge were some of the emotions that Moses displayed in striking the rock. They put the burden on the people complaining with anger and wrath without providing an answer to the problem.

God had put Moses in charge of leading the nation of Israel, so he felt that the complaints were laid against him. And because God had appointed him, he charged God with taking the people out into the desert and not providing all that the people wanted. We want things that we pray for to happen "yesterday" and do not want to wait and hear all the complaints. Moses' nerves are stretched to the breaking point, that cause him some very strong emotional stress. He cannot resolve the problem and has to ask God for help. NO - Moses should remember all the miracles that God had done since they left Egypt. NO - We are to express ourselves to God, but not accuse Him of not doing His job. We have been shown this prayer because it shows that we need to have complete trust in Him to take care of all of our needs. God answered Moses by providing meat for the people.

God believed that by the offerer placing his hands on the animals head and confessing his sin, would make an important and vital connection between the price of sin and the value of the animal (without defect). The sinner had to be made to realize that sin is not a lite thing, but costs the sinner the animal as well as his own time and effort. God said that life is in the blood and the blood makes atonement for sin - a life for a life. Jesus was tempted in all points, as we are, but without sinning. Jesus led a life of purity and holiness, so He did not deserve to die. So when Jesus died on the cross, all sin was put upon His head and His blood was then deposited in the Heavenly Throne Room Altar to pay the price of all sin.

I believe that it was set up to show the Israelites how they were to meet with God. It showed them how to purify themselves before meeting with God. From past teaching, I have learned that outside the Tabernacle fence was to represent the world or the lost. As you enter through the fence, you come to the Altar, which represents the sacrifice of Jesus and our belief in Him. Next we come to the Laver which represents immersion, or cleansing from sin by the blood of Jesus. After that, we become a part of the church or the first room of the Tabernacle. The Lampstand is the Bible, the table of shewbread is communion, the Altar of Incense's smoke is our prayers going into the presence of God in the Holy of Holies.

The Ark, top of it, being made of pure gold, showed the value of the presence of God. The Scriptures say that God would meet His people their above the top, between the Cherumbim wings. It represented the throne of God, a copy of the one in Heaven. The presence of God would come down and "sit" on the Ark to give instructions to Moses and where the high priest would offer sacrifices for sin. It was holy because of God's presence. And when He wasn't there, no one could enter the Holy of Holies. The gold plate between the Cherubim was the place that blood sacrifices were put once a year for the sin of the people.

So that when the Israelites traveled, the tribes on each side, went out in the order that God wanted them to. The Levites would take down the Tabernacle and go first with their tribes. The Tabernacle was in the center of their camp. Therefore, God wanted to be in the center of each Israelite's life and worship. The Levites were the ones who were to take care of the Tabernacle, that is, setting it up and taking it down. Also they served God in the sacrifices and offerings of the people.

The Israelites are just like all people. They have a short memory, strengthen by the fear of God speaking to them. By Moses being gone so long, it make them feel leaderless and more fearful that some nation may attack them. Also having had many graven images in Egypt, they drew upon their memory in making a golden calf. Aaron did not have strong leadership character. He was moved my mob action that he felt fear of. To keep in good favor with the people, he then helped them build the golden calf. Any idol worship by any people group would make God angry, but here His people who just heard the ten commandments, which included not making any idols, kept doing their own thing of not listening to God, but their own instincts. I am sorry to say that there are many: 1. dead saints 2. statues of dead saints 3. the Pope 4. church buildings 5. church worship 6. Bible translations 7. pastors 8. money 9. possessions 10. Bible scholars These are but a few of the idols that Christians have today.

God provided the manna to the people of Israel so they would have food to eat every day. God does not lead people to death nor does he lead people to starve. God will provide what we need, not necessarily what we want. God stop providing manna for the Israelites when they entered the promised land and ate of the first harvest. When we have something like manna everyday (except Saturday), day after day after day, we feel that it will be there every day, even if we don't think about it. It becomes common place and we forget to thank God for what He provides us. God does provide my needs every day, but sometimes I begin to think He will do it without my thankfulness. Then I need to praise God for all His goodness that He bestows on me all the time. My life would not be, if God did not take care of me in all situations. I tend to forget that He provides me money to live on to buy the things I need.

As Christians, we are speakers for God. And as Preachers, we should be stepping on the toes of those who listen, to make sure they know they need to change. The only material we use to teach others is from the Bible, God's Word, and as such, we speak for God to change the lives of both the Christian and non-Christian alike. God's Word is not easy to follow sometimes, but we need to push on to maturity. God is our Leader! God is our Judge! What pleases God, should please us as we obey Him. NO - man is not on top. We either serve God or the Devil. So complaints are laid against us and those whom we serve. We tend to take complaints personally, because it is the result of something we have said or done. People can see us but cannot see God. And sometimes we feel like Moses did when he struck the Rock for water. The complaints are so unjust that we forget we are the ambassadors for Jesus. When we preach or teach the Word of God, we must have in our mind that "I am speaking for God and not myself". We are still lowly humans through whom God speaks His message. In that manner, we must become a willing mouth-piece for our God and not take it personally if people complain about it.

People want to grumble and complain when things to be done are not easy. We are a people of luxury and want the easiest way. God seems to be the object of our grumbling because He is the giver of all things. Being a Christian does not mean there is "no work, and only play". Fear plays a big part in our life, because it has respect attached to it. When we are fearful, we do not respect the presence of God in our life. We think that we can take care of all the things that are wrong with our life. Being fearful cuts into our faith and trust of God in our life. Why do we have life insurance? Or why do we have any kind of insurance, when God is our life. Don't we trust Him? Don't we trust God to take care of us? And even our prayers get mixed up in this mess by always praying for someone who is sick or hurt to be healed. Did God say that we would never be sick or hurt? Out prayers need to be, "God help me or this other person to learn the lesson you are trying to teach us." Because we do not fully trust God, we have to have life and accident insurance to keep our lives going in the flesh. Because I do not fully trust God with my life, I have to use the carnal insurances to keep myself going. That is not what I want. I want to put my life into the hands of God and not have to worry about every situation and its outcome. I believe I am striving to trust more and to follow God's commands more completely. Being that I am married, I need to bring my wife along with me, as I increase my faith and obedience. Being drawn closer to God, by cutting off the worldly baggage, I will see more of what I hope for in Christ Jesus.