Numbers 20:12 “But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.’”

DO JUST WHAT I SAID

To get the full context you really need to read Numbers 20:2-12, but for this devotional thought I just gave you the last verse.  Do you remember the story?  The people were murmuring, once again, this time for water.  Moses goes before God, and He tells him to SPEAK to a rock and water will come forth.  But Moses takes the rod and hits the rock twice.  He never mentions that God told him to SPEAK to the rock.  In fact, Moses doesn’t either.  He speaks to the people and then hits the rock.

Did Moses go to the rock?  Did water come out?  Yes to both questions, but did Moses follow the Lord’s instructions?  No, and because of that disobedience he was not allowed to enter the Promised Land.  Sounds harsh, doesn’t it?

TEACHING MOMENT

Our disobedience, no matter how slight, has consequences.  Our children must know that.  They must know that half obeying is still disobeying.  They must know that telling a half lie is still lying.  Are we going to kick them out the family for that?  Hardly.  But we must be consistent in handing out discipline.  Otherwise, they think they can partially obey.

This may sound too hard for some of you parents.  Sorry!  I just see way too many parents not being firm with their children when it comes to disobedience.  I have seen the results of that from 38 years of ministry to children and youth.  Trust me, you don’t want to let your children “get by” with things that will cost them dearly in the future.

But what about you, Mom and Dad?  What are you trying to get by with?  What are you half obeying?  Are you listening to the Lord and then picking out which parts you want to obey?  Are you reading His Word and then following only the parts that fit into your lifestyle.  Stop!  Obey!  Be blessed!