WHY MOSES MISSED OUT

The Old Testament reveals many graphic illustrations of Grace as in an incident at Kadesh. (Numbers 20) 

Again, as at Horeb, there was no water and the people thirsted. As before, God would provide water from a Rock. This time however, instead of smiting the Rock, Moses was told to just speak to the Rock.  Remember that in type “that Rock was Christ”  1 Corinthians 10:4

Moses, angry at the murmuring of the people, struck the Rock twice and said,

Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” 

Numbers 20:10 [emphasis added]

Psalm 106:33 says that he spoke rashly with his lips. Moses was boasting of his own ability.

Redemption is never of man’s works, “lest anyone should boast. ”  Ephesians 2:9

The Rock yielded water, but Moses disqualified himself from entering the Land. It is commonly taught that it was disobedience that kept him out, but primarily it was unbelief.

God said:-

“Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.”

Numbers 20:12  emphasis added

Disobedience follows unbelief. If we believe then we obey. Moses typical of the Law, couldn’t believe that a bit of human effort wasn’t necessary. It was all up to him. He had to bring water out of the Rock. 

Probably we have all thought that Moses punishment was a bit harsh, after all the years of faithful commitment, but remember that God was laying down a principle here. He was leaving a vital clue for us “upon whom the end of the age have come” [Read 1 Corinthians 10:11]

That Rock was Christ. One smiting of the Rock is sufficient. It was all that was necessary to give access to all the provision of God. We need only to speak to the Rock. What is speaking to the Rock? It is prayer and our faith confession of the Word. It’s not our works which make the fountain flow; it’s faith in His work.

Moses was indeed a great man of God. He came a long way by faith but couldn’t enter in to the Land because he lapsed into works. Did he make it into Heaven? Certainly! In Matthew 17 we see him on the Mount of Transfiguration with Elijah talking to Jesus. Entering the land isn’t about going to Heaven as we have stated. It’s about fulfilling the mission of the Church here in the Earth.

To conquer the Land we need to see that one smiting of the Rock is enough. i.e. the Cross is all-sufficient.  In many and subtle ways we keep smiting the Rock. When we say that Jesus has yet more to do before the Kingdom is established; we are smiting the Rock. We are saying that the Cross wasn’t enough. The Scriptures say that Jesus is now seated at the Father’s right hand, waiting for His enemies to be made His footstool.  Jesus will come again when we have completed our assignment to make disciples of all the nations, and we have put His enemies under His feet.

When we say that we have to “die to self” then we are smiting the Rock.  It sounds very pious and commendable, but plainly it is works.  Jesus has already done the job:-

“I was crucified with Christ” Galatians 2:20  emphasis added

“For you died and your life is hidden with Christ in God”  Colossians 3:3 emphasis added

“If One died for all, then all died.”  2 Corinthians 5:14 e.a.

“knowing this, that our old man was crucified with [Him] that the body of sin might be done away with..”  Romans 6:6  e.a.

“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

 Galatians 5:24 e.a

We need to stop smiting the Rock and learn to rest in His completed work on our behalf. As Paul says in Romans 6:11 “Consider it done.”  By ONE offering He has perfected us forever.  [Hebrews 10:14] But doesn’t Paul say “I die daily?” [1 Corinthians 15:31]. In the context he is talking about the perils he faces daily for the sake of the Gospel. The Accuser will keep us busy wrestling the flesh, smiting the Rock.  It’s a red herring, a delaying tactic, to keep us from doing what we’re supposed to be doing – wrestling against powers and principalities and spiritual wickedness in the heavenlies and liberating the Earth from satan’s grip.  We do not need to wrestle with flesh and blood, including our own; that battle has been won. 

The battle against the enemy will be won only on the basis of what Jesus has done; not on the basis of what we can do. We do however need to consecrate ourselves and be totally available to God. That shouldn’t be difficult when we see what’s at stake and the glorious victory ahead.

How then are we changed into Christ’s image if not by battling the flesh?  2 Corinthians 3:18 gives the answer.

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding, as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

We are changed through revelation.  Every time the Spirit shows us more of Him a change is effected in us because it is a spiritual principle that no man can see God and live.  [Exodus 33:20] At each glimpse of His glory, something of the old nature in us dies as the hush of holiness settles in our soul and silences Self.  Jacob saw God face to face at Peniel and thereafter he walked with a limp.  No longer did he have confidence in himself, only in God. As Paul was to say centuries later “Our sufficiency[ is] from God”. [ 2 Corinthians 3:5]

You can tell when people have seen God; it shows. Moses saw God and his face shone with glory. Isaiah saw God in the Temple and was thereafter totally sold out to Him. Head knowledge can make us proud, even just head knowledge of the Bible: [“Knowledge puffs up” 1 Corinthians 8:1] But revelation humbles us. When we see God’s glory with the eyes of our heart, the flesh is dumb, there’s nothing to say.  Job saw God and didn’t need answers

anymore. Seeing God was enough. He said;-

“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear,

But now my eye sees You.

Therefore I abhor [myself],

And repent in dust and ashes.”  Job 42:5,6

It is seeing the goodness of God that leads us to repentance. [Romans 2:4] When Moses asked to see God, He said “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you.”  [Exodus 33:19]  Moses received a revelation of a merciful, gracious, longsuffering God, abounding in goodness and truth and his face reflected His glory. Supremely, God is revealed in His Son Jesus:-

“God………has shone in our hearts to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”  2 Corinthians 4:6

It is a humbling, purifying experience to see God. If we want to be like Jesus all we need to do is to seek His face, and we will be changed from glory to glory. Legally, our old nature died at the Cross, it was crucified with Christ:  Experientially, day by day, we are changed by revelation. We are responsible, of course, to walk in the light of what we have seen. 

“For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required…..”  Luke 12:48

 

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THROUGH THE VEIL

 A MEDITATION from “THE MELCHIZEDEK MINISTRY” by Val Pym

“Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree...” 1Peter 2:24

“Therefore brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He has consecrated for us, through the veil, that is His flesh....”

Hebrews 10:19,20

[Beginning from the view of the priest ministering at the Golden Altar of Incense before the Veil in the Temple at the time of the Crucifixion.]

You are standing in the Holy Place in your white priestly robe. It is the ninth hour, the time of the evening sacrifice, and you are preparing to burn incense at the Golden Altar. It has been a strange day and darkness has brooded over the city for almost three hours.

The soft golden gleam from the Lampstand lights up the Holy Place and the Table of Showbread of the Presence reminds you of the Presence within the Veil – a Presence which filters through into the Holy Place and draws you to worship. On the Golden Altar you place the incense with coals from the fire from the Altar where burns the evening sacrifice.  The incense rises before the Veil and its fragrance fills the air.

Your eyes are fixed on the Veil which shuts you out of the Holy of Holies where you long, and yet dread to go. To enter in there means death. The Veil is embroidered with Cherubim and you remember that Cherubim and a flaming sword guard the way to the Tree of Life and all that Man lost through the foolishness of pride. You think of yourself and the sins that drove you to the Altar of Sacrifice seeking forgiveness and you wonder “Are they really gone?”

As you gaze there suddenly appears on the Veil in stark ugly black, woven in and our among the Cherubim, every sin, every act or even thought of rebellion – nothing is left out, everything is revealed –all the secret hidden things, and more than that, the suggestion of every evil known to man which may yet lie in the future – every horrible thing. The Cherubim now seem to be wielding fiery swords and their eyes flame with holy indignation at your presumption. The Veil which looked so beautiful has become a thing of terror – a monstrosity hanging in this Holy Place.

[Spend some time on this. Also see on the Veil the things that others have done which have hurt or offended you]

A voice behind you whispers – a voice you have heard many times before, insinuating, accusing.-“Did you really think it could be any different? You and I know what you’re really like. Look at yourself.” You look down and see that the robe you thought was so clean is hanging in filthy tatters. You cringe and weep with shame and wish that the lamp would go out and the darkness swallow you up. The hideous taunting whisper goes on and on confirming what you already know – you sin has made an impenetrable barrier between you and God – a barrier you are helpless to remove.

Suddenly you hear from outside somewhere, a loud cry – a cry born in agony yet ringing in triumph “IT IS FINISHED!”

Then unseen hands take hold of the Veil, tear it from top to bottom and push it aside and the Shekinah floods out. It is a living pulsating light – almost tangible, and everything else recedes from view. You look down at your robe; it is glistening white and seems to be woven with the same glory that has enveloped the Holy Place and the Life and the Light of the Shekinah fill your whole being. You look up and see the unveiled Glory of God and know that, even as you behold it, you are reflecting like a mirror, that same Glory. The Cherubim no longer wield fiery swords but gaze with wondering eyes at the blood on the Mercy Seat.

 A welcoming voice says “COME,” and you walk over blood sprinkled ground into the arms of the Father. He speaks your name and says “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you. You are mine and I am yours for eternity. All that I have is yours and NOTHING will ever separate you from My love. What I have opened no one can shut.” You begin to understand the height and depth and length and breadth of His incredible love. It washes you through and through and every wound is healed. You know that you will never be the same, because your eyes have beheld the Living God and no one can see God and live. That old wilful Self is gone forever and your life is now immersed in His.

Jesus is standing there at the right hand of the Father.  There are deep wounds in His hands and feet, but His face is radiant. He has endured the Cross, despising the shame for the joy of seeing you come to this place. He says, “You are My Beloved, flesh of My flesh and bone of My bones and I have longed for this. You share a timeless moment of utter bliss.

He continues, “There are others I long to bring here. Will you go for me? Will you take the glory of this place out into the darkness and bring My love into the midst of the pain and turmoil of the world? Will you be a servant to all and wash the feet of the weary? It is not an easy path I am asking you to walk, but you will share my joy even as you share My suffering and you’ll never be alone. The way of the Cross is the way of Redemption for the World.”

He has been holding over His arm the High Priestly garments and He now places over your white garment, the blue robe with its fruit and tinkling bells. He asks “Will you share My gospel and minister the gifts I give you in love?” He puts on the Ephod with the Breastplate of glittering gems and the gleaming onyx at the shoulders and says “Will you carry My people in your heart, bear them up and join Me in My intercessions for them? They are my precious gems.” He places the Urim and Thummim in the pocket of the breastplate and says, “You will never lack guidance, You have only to ask and I will share the secrets of My heart.” He places the diadem of gold on your head with its inscription and says “You are now ‘Holiness unto the Lord,’ as the Father has sent Me, so send I you.” You turn to, reluctantly yet with purpose, knowing that this place is always open to you. 

He calls after you, “And child, don’t tell anyone who you are – just live it!”

 

Philippians 2:5-8  “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant and coming in the likeness of men, and being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

Philippians 3:8 “.....I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord....that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.”

Colossians 3:3,4 “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”

1 John 4:17 “Love has been perfected among us in this; that we may have boldness in the day of judgement; because as He is, so are we in this world.”

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.”