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Day 46, or February the 15th. Some consequences

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are best avoided. Our thoughts today are rooted

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in Numbers chapter 20 verse 12. The Lord said

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to Moses and Aaron, Because you did not trust

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in me enough to honour me as holy in the sight

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of the Israelites, you will not bring this community

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into the land I give them. And now the big picture

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surrounding this verse. These chapters give us

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more details about the priesthood and their preparations

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for ministry. Meanwhile, everyday problems continue

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to test Moses and the people. Lack of water is

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a big issue in the wilderness, which is resolved

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at great cost to both Moses and Aaron. They encounter

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problems when trying to pass through the land

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of the Edomites, all because of the ancient feud

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between Jacob, and Esau. And now today's action

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step. Moses and his brother Aaron were truly

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great leaders, but even for them, disobedience

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had its consequences, and sometimes these could

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be very great. It seems such a small thing that

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they do, hitting the rock rather than speaking

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to it, but there's much more to it than that.

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Even today, there are Bedouins who are able to

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strike at a rock at just the right place to release

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hidden streams of water. They are seen as very

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wise and clever people. God told Moses and Aaron

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to speak to the rock. If they had, then the resulting

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water would have been attributed to God. As it

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was, the praise went to Moses and Aaron. Don't

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ever try to rob God of His rightful glory by

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claiming to credit yourself. I've heard preachers

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talk of conversions they have made, growth in

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membership following their dynamic ministry,

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etc., etc. May they be forgiven. When God produces

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something in your life or ministry, thank Him

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and give Him the glory. As soon as all you do

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is in your own strength, you will soon burn out.

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That could be why you are so exhausted as you

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are listening to this. Don't suffer from the

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eye strain. Allow God to work through you and

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then give him the glory. Mind you, there's nothing

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wrong with you enjoying the results as well.