Numbers 20:9-13 – “So, Moses took the rod from before Yahweh, just as He had commanded him; ¹⁰ and Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. And he said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?” ¹¹ Then Moses raised high his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation and their beasts drank. ¹² But Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe 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.” ¹³ Those were the waters of Meribah because the sons of Israel contended with Yahweh, and He proved Himself holy among them.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered this morning, the importance of explicit obedience gripped my heart.  Explicit obedience in everything, large and small, is vital.

In Numbers 20:11-12, we have an example of allowing past experience and personal passion to become an act of disobedience.  Moses did not maliciously disobey, but he did, which cost him greatly.  God is not petty but holy, and explicit obedience is necessary to achieve the fullness of God’s purpose.   We tend to excuse ourselves, “I’m only human.  Nobody is perfect.”  God won’t accept that.

God told Moses to take his staff (a symbol of authority) and SPEAK to the rock (a type of Christ).  Moses drew from the past and, out of anger, hit the rock twice with his staff.  God didn’t let it go.  Moses had disobeyed and did so in the sight of the people.  God wanted them to understand that there was nothing magic in the ritual they had seen before but that the power to achieve God’s purpose was in explicit obedience.  

Disobedience demonstrates a lack of faith, disrespect for God, and a lack of total dependence on God.  It has consequences.

In Matthew, Joseph had a plan, but when God gave directions, he followed them explicitly, preserving Jesus and living the hope of salvation. The Magi had orders from the reigning monarch, but God gave orders that countermanded the king’s order, and they obeyed explicitly. Jesus was spared, and the hope of salvation lived.

The Scriptures tell us that the little foxes spoil the vine.   One act of disobedience may not make us a rebel, but it makes another act of disobedience easier to commit.  The cumulative effect is destruction.

You can drop a single BB in a boat with no effect.  But, if you continue dropping BBs into the boat somewhere along the way, one BB will sink the boat.   Cumulative. However, one act of explicit obedience can open the door to the kingdom and propel us on the pathway to TOTAL VICTORY!

Obedience is better than sacrifice, and hearkening (hearing and obeying) is better than the fat of rams.   We live by every Word that God speaks.  Jesus said, ” If you love Me, do what I say. “

My prayer today is:

“Lord, help us to be explicitly obedient. Not in tormenting fear that You will get is for failure but because we love and trust you completely.”   

Our Father desires to give us the kingdom, but He cannot and will not bless disobedience.

Today, as we seek to obey explicitly, the revelation of our path will be illuminated.  His Word is a light and lamp.  Trust Him and see what happens.   The flesh will resist, but there is power, provision, protection, and promise in explicit obedience.

Have a great day, and enjoy the presence of the Holy Spirit and the guidance He provides!