Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them. Numbers 20:12
God gave Moses instructions for quenching the thirst of the Israelites. He told him to speak to the rock and it would give water. Moses struck the rock instead. He had done that once before and it had worked, but his instructions were to speak to the rock. The rock still yielded water, but this verse is the result of his disobedience.
Moses trusted in his experience instead of God. He was going through the motions instead of letting God reanimate him. Where am I going through the motions, Where am I expecting that I know what God would say without really asking Him?
Sometimes we can expect that we know the answer, but God is full of variety and surprises. We've got to slow down, especially in the places where we think we know where we are going, and continue to ask directions.
God listens in real time, we need to listen in real time. He has fresh instructions for each new day and each circumstance. We need to ask; we need to rely on Him not our experience. I know that I get in a pattern of trusting myself, of leaning on myself because it comes naturally. This is a great reminder to me that God can still get done what needs done, but my blessing comes through obedience.
I'm asking myself can God trust me to obey? Can He trust me to say yes when I don't even understand and it doesn't track with my experience, can He trust that I will follow his voice?
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way that I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8
I have loved this verse so much, and I need to take it to heart again. I need to walk more slowly in trust. I love how verses we know can become fresh again.
Father, I can spend time chasing or I can spend time listening. Obedience isn't glamorous, but it ushers in both peace and blessing. Help me listen and not even hesitate to obey, especially when it doesn't make sense to me. That is trust. I want my trust to bring you glory and uphold you as holy.