Moses, Aaron and the Spiritual Rock

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Disciplined Believers
By Ian Berto Cooper

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Disciplined Believers
Main Text:
Exodus 17:3-7
Numbers 20 – 5:13, 23-29
God requires discipline
We need consider what happens when
we are not disciplined
In this reading we will examine the issue
of discipline among believers and what
we need to be very careful about.

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Disciplined Believers
Consider Moses response to God’s
instructions:
1. In Exodus 17 Moses follows the instruction
to the hilt.
• Result – God’s blessings of water and
success at battle against the Amalek.
Moses was told to (verse 5-7) to take his rod
and strike the rock in the view of the elders
• He was humble in his response as he did
what he was told without question.

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Disciplined Believers
Consider Moses response to God’s
instructions:
2. In Numbers 20 Moses follows the
instruction only partially. Instead of
speaking to the rock he strikes it, not once
but twice.
• Result – the Death of Aaron and Moses
before reaching the Promise Land.
• He was annoyed and finally dismayed at
the lack of faith of the Israelites in God
and his leadership

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Disciplined Believers
In Summary Moses’ response to God’s
instructions:
1. In Exodus Moses follows the instruction to
the hilt.
• Result – God’s blessings of water and
success at battle against the Amalek.
2. In Numbers Moses follows the instruction
only partially. Instead of speaking to the
rock he strikes it, not once but twice.
• Result – the Death of Aaron and Moses
before reaching the Promise Land.

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Disciplined Believers
The significance of the Rock
Spiritual Drink: 1 Corinthians 10:4-5
…4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For
they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed
them, and that Rock was Christ.5 But with
most of them God was not well pleased,
for their bodies were scattered in the
wilderness.
Spiritual Bread: Exodus 16:15
Spiritual Meat: Exodus 16:13
Question: We are feeding from the Rock
called Christ but is it working?

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Disciplined Believers
Paul in 1 Corinthians Chapter 10
relates the experience of the
Israelites in five verses.
Then he describes the reasoning
behind it – it is an example for us to
take heed of and not fall into the
same trap as the Israelites did
including their Leadership trio.

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Disciplined Believers
In recent times we have heard
messages on the following:
• Obedience
• Forgiveness
And More..
• The Tongue
• The Tenets of Christianity
• Prosperity
• Characteristics of God
• Characteristics of Jesus Christ

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Disciplined Believers
We have also had opportunities for
• Prayer
• Bible study
• Fellowship
• Outreach
Question: Are these working?

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Disciplined Believers
Some indication of success
• Prayer - Miracles
• Bible study - Closer to God
• Fellowship - Closer family
• Outreach - Growth
Question: Maybe, Maybe not but why
even ask? – Formative Assessment

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Disciplined Believers
Rather than answer yes or no to
both questions let us find out
what would cause stumbling
blocks to:
a. Our Individual walk with Christ
b. Our Functional role(s) in the
Body

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Disciplined Believers
Let us look at:
1 Corinthians 10:6-12
• V6 Avoid Evil things
• V7 Avoid Idols
• V8 Avoid Fornication (Num 25:1-9)
• V9 Avoid Tempting God
• V10 Avoid Murmuring

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Disciplined Believers
Finally, let us re examine the plight of Moses as
he struck the Rock called Christ.
Moses famously shouted to the People:
“Hear now ye rebels; must we fetch you water
out of this rock?” Numbers 20:10
This was Moses now thinking that the miracles
were his own doing. He had elevated
hinself along side God. Sounds familiar?

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Disciplined Believers
Finally, let us re examine the plight of Moses as
he struck the Rock called Christ.
Moses was in part frustrated but more
dangerous was the level of pride (belief in
self) the first of seven things which God
hates Proverbs (6:16-19).
God dealt with him and Aaron severely.

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Disciplined Believers
In closing, murmuring or to put it another way,
sowing seeds of discord among the
brethren is listed as the seventh thing that
God hates. Proverbs (6:19).
Let us as a church and as leaders avoid these
pitfalls.
Let us also continue to examine ourselves and
refrain from criticising others

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Disciplined Believers
Finally, have a go at these resources
and see how you fare. Please keep
the results to yourself!
Pride Test
Pride Quiz
Spiritual Pride
Many Blessings.