"Because of you the Lord became angry with me also and said, “You shall not enter it, either.”
Moses blames the Israelites for Gods anger toward him … He implies that the conduct of the Israelites was what got him in trouble, and that it was their fault that he was excluded from the Promised Land.
That’s odd because in Numbers 27:14 God told Moses (and Aaron) exactly why they would not be allowed into the promised land - and it was their disobedience, not the Israelites’, that got them excluded. Seven chapters earlier in Numbers 20, we see that God commanded Moses to speak to a rock to bring forth water. However, in frustration and drama, Moses struck the rock twice with his staff. God caused water to come out of the rock but was displeased with Moses and declared that he would not cross the Jordan.
So, today’s verse makes it seem like Moses was struggling with confessing and owning his own sin. He sounds a little like Adam did in the garden when Adam blamed the women that God gave him for his sin.
So, what’s the lesson here? ….I think it is noteworthy when the first created human, and a Hall of Fame Prophet both stumble in the same way. When we read that, we should probably see if we are prone to falling into the same temptation. If these mighty men’s response to failure was to blame others – we could be tempted to do the same.
So, think about it… Who was to blame for your last big failure? Who was wrong in that argument you had with your spouse? Whose fault is it that you missed that promotion at work? Do you automatically default to being the victim… or do you face your failures head-on and own them?
The problem with blaming others is that you can’t change a problem that’s not yours. That is why God demands confession…. It’s not for Him, He already knows your sin – but He wants to make sure you know it too… Because to change a problem you must first acknowledge that it’s yours. You must confess it – repent from it – and by the power of the Holy Spirit who sets us free from the power of sin - change it.
“When you blame others, you give up your power to change.”
- Robert Anthony
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