Speak to the Rock by Dr. 'Tayo Brown
December 21-27, 2003

"And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. And the people chode with Moses…And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they felll upon their faces: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto them. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother and SPEAK YE UNTO THE ROCK BEFORE THEIR EYES: and it shall give forth his water…" Num. 20: 2-8

The people of Israel were very wroth with their leaders because of the temporal thirst and lack that they experienced in the desert. The Lord allowed this to prove them but they complained and began to manifest the Egypt that was still in them, their destiny was not the desert of Zin, though they would have to pass through it with God to the Promised Land. After Moses and Aaron had sought God's face,
they were commanded to do just one thing, TO SPEAK TO THE ROCK.

Hitherto, Moses has been using his rod for miracles but not at this time, he was commanded to take his rod (verse 8) which he did, he was told to gather the assembly which he did, he was told to speak to the Rock and not to Israel, which he did not, he was not informed by the Lord to smite the rock twice but he did in disobedience. He spoke to the people and not to "The Rock". Moses used the word "we"- He referred to Aaron and himself as the source of supply not Jehovah (verse 10) thus Moses did not sanctify God (set Him apart as sacred and reverend) before all the people. Aaron would have likewise checked this impatient, rash and disobedient act of Moses, for he was given instructions along Moses (verses 6-8), but he did not. Friends, the very people you are showing the way to heaven might be there while you are cast out.

Paul prayed that he doesn't want to be a cast away after preaching to others. Jesus said, (and I paraphrase) some of the people that claimed to have done many mighty works in His name on that day would be disappointed when he tell them that He doesn't know them because they WORK INIQUITY.

Have you been told by the Lord to speak to the rock in prayers this New Year that is very close (2003)? Do you even have enough time, out of your busy ministry schedule to inquire of the Lord -if there is any time to pray and dwell in God's presence, this is the time. Moses committed a very serious sin- one that displeased Jehovah greatly. The rock was the spiritual rock of Israel, identified with Messiah: smitten it typified His crucifixion. To smite the rock twice meant crucifying Christ afresh. Moses and Aaron were not permitted to enter the promised land (verse 12, 24) "And I besought the LORD at that time…I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan… and the Lord was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me and the LORD said unto me…speak no more unto me of this matter. Get thee up to Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold it with thine eyes: for thou shall not go over this Jordan" Deut 3: 23-27

Ah! Lord have mercy, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of God. This was Moses unanswered prayer, the man who spent 120 years in preparation and getting his people out of bondage, at the last moment he was not permitted to see the work completed! He was not eternally lost or cut off from heaven but was denied of the fulfillment of his life long desire through disobedience. When we speak to the rock then we would not smite the rock in disobedience by allowing the mortified deeds of the flesh to erupt in our lives again thereby suppressing the power of the fruit of Spirit. When you are born again, you see the kingdom of God but you cannot enter this kingdom until you are born of water and of the Spirit (Jn. 3: 3, 5)

GRA