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Sin of Moses
131
For this single instance, Moses had allowed the impression to be
entertained that he had brought them water out of the rock, when he
should have magnified the name of the Lord among His people. The
Lord would now settle the matter with His people, that Moses was
merely a man, following the guidance and direction of a mightier
than he, even the Son of God. In this He would leave them without
doubt. Where much is given, much is required. Moses had been
highly favored with special views of God’s majesty. The light and
glory of God had been imparted to him in rich abundance. His face
had reflected upon the people the glory that the Lord had let shine
upon him. All will be judged according to the privileges they have
had, and the light and benefits bestowed.
The sins of good men, whose general deportment has been wor-
thy of imitation, are peculiarly offensive to God. They cause Satan
to triumph, and to taunt the angels of God with the failings of God’s
chosen instruments, and give the unrighteous occasion to lift them-
selves up against God. The Lord had Himself led Moses in a special
manner, and had revealed to him His glory, as to no other upon the
earth. He was naturally impatient, but had taken hold firmly of the
grace of God and so humbly implored wisdom from heaven that he
was strengthened from God and had overcome his impatience so that
he was called of God the meekest man upon the face of the whole
earth.
Aaron died at Mount Hor, for the Lord had said that he should
not enter the Promised Land, because, with Moses, he had sinned at
the time of bringing water from the rock at Meribah. Moses and the
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sons of Aaron buried him in the mount, that the people might not be
tempted to make too great ceremony over his body, and be guilty of
the sin of idolatry.
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