PASTOR’S CORNER, Bailey Norris, New Beginnings Church, Liberal
A few weeks ago, I was headed to the movies with friends. I’d admittedly put off buying my ticket even though I knew the movie would be sold out. In the midst of my rush to buy a ticket. I’d accidentally bought a the wrong one. The movie, I was headed to see instead was on my list but alone. The disappointment set in and jaded my experience of the movie I did see.
How often do our disappointments and past experiences of life mark our expectations of of God? When we look at scripture, we see Gods faithfulness time and time again but we also see people handling the expectations of then what they expect God to do.
In Numbers 20:1-12, the experience of the Israelites isn’t what they were wanting. They are hungry and tired of what is happening around them. Moses is getting frustrated with the Israelites. They are angry again. Moses takes his concern to God and God gives clear instructions.
This incident is very similar to the one 40 years before when God directed Moses to strike the rock with his rod to produce water for the grumbling people (Exod. 17:6). But this time, God directed Moses to take the rod, which was a symbol of his God-given authority; but instead of striking the rock, he was to speak to it. Moses began well by taking the rod, but then he disobeyed by striking the rock, not just once, but twice.
Moses allows his previous experience to control what he was doing in the moment. Moses strikes the rock instead of speaking to it as God commanded. Moses paid a price and was unable to enter the promised land.
Moses made the choice to strike the rock again even when it wasn't what God asked. I'm sure the muscle memory took over. He also knew that God worked in that way in the past. Why wouldn't God work that way now?
Often, we can find ourself listening to Gods last command even when he has called us to the next thing because its the easy choice. Our muscle memory takes over. Our past experiences and disappointments cause us to miss what is next. When we lose sight of the next command, we often can face the consequences of missing what God has called us to. But we serve a God who shows up abundantly in the midst of of short comings. Gods grace is always there.
In my disappointment in missing my movie with my friends, I recognize that my expectations control my experience. If you are in season of waiting and allowing your expectations to control your experience, remember his faithfulness in the past and what he has brought you from and look forward to what he is speaking and commanding now.
