Smitten Rock
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with willful or deliberate sin; they had been overcome by a sudden
temptation, and their contrition was immediate and heartfelt. The Lord
accepted their repentance, though because of the harm their sin might
do among the people, He could not remit its punishment.
Moses did not conceal his sentence, but told the people that since
he had failed to ascribe glory to God, he could not lead them into the
Promised Land. He bade them mark the severe punishment visited
upon him, and then consider how God must regard their murmurings
in charging upon a mere man the judgments which they had by their
sins brought upon themselves. He told them how he had pleaded with
God for a remission of the sentence, and had been refused. “The Lord
was wroth with me for your sakes,” he said, “and would not hear me.”
Deuteronomy 3:26
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On every occasion of difficulty or trial the Israelites had been ready
to charge Moses with having led them from Egypt, as though God had
had no agency in the matter. Throughout their journeyings, as they
had complained of the difficulties in the way, and murmured against
their leaders, Moses had told them, “Your murmurings are against
God. It is not I, but God, who has wrought in your deliverance.”
But his hasty words before the rock, “shall we bring water?” were a
virtual admission of their charge, and would thus confirm them in their
unbelief and justify their murmurings. The Lord would remove this
impression forever from their minds, by forbidding Moses to enter the
Promised Land. Here was unmistakable evidence that their leader was
not Moses, but the mighty Angel of whom the Lord had said, “Behold,
I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee
into the place which I have prepared. Beware of Him , and obey His
voice: ... for My name is in Him .”
Exodus 23:20, 21
.
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“The Lord was wroth with me for your sakes,” said Moses. The
eyes of all Israel were upon Moses, and his sin cast a reflection upon
God, who had chosen him as the leader of His people. The transgres-
sion was known to the whole congregation; and had it been passed
by lightly, the impression would have been given that unbelief and
impatience under great provocation might be excused in those in re-
sponsible positions. But when it was declared that because of that
one sin Moses and Aaron were not to enter Canaan, the people knew
that God is no respecter of persons, and that He will surely punish the
transgressor.