The verse opens Moses' prayer after his fault at Meribah, in which he asked to cross the Jordan and enter the promised land because he had seen God's greatness and mighty power and works. He pleaded earnestly with the Lord from the mountain after learning that his sin had barred him from Canaan, but his pleading did not change God's decision, reverse the judgment, or allow him to lead Israel in. He deeply grieved the loss, confessed his sin, asked pardon, repented deeply and humbled himself, humbly accepting the punishment without complaint and having to suffer it, and he openly told Israel that this failure meant he could not lead them in.
His sin was an open transgression at Kadesh: commanded to speak to the rock, he struck it instead, reacting angrily and impatiently to Israel's continual murmuring and rebellion and failing to give God the glory for the miracle of water from the rock. God refused the request because of that fault, yet let him see the land from Pisgah and told him to charge, encourage, and strengthen Joshua, who would lead Israel into it. His honored position, great privileges, closeness to God, and responsibility as teacher and example did not lessen his guilt but made his error especially serious, so even his faithfulness and suffering did not make his public transgression inconsequential and his punishment was certain.
The episode shows that God's word must be obeyed exactly and that God's love and compassion do not make it safe to sin in thought, word, or deed. Moses used his correction as a warning about the consequences of Israel's repeated complaints, whose trials were meant to lead them to call on God for deliverance so he could answer by showing his power and greatness and teaching them to trust him alone.
The verse opens Moses' prayer after his fault at Meribah, in which he asked to cross the Jordan and enter the promised land because he had seen God's greatness and mighty power and works. He pleaded earnestly with the Lord from the mountain after learning that his sin had barred him from Canaan, but his pleading did not change God's decision, reverse the judgment, or allow him to lead Israel in. He deeply grieved the loss, confessed his sin, asked pardon, repented deeply and humbled himself, humbly accepting the punishment without complaint and having to suffer it, and he openly told Israel that this failure meant he could not lead them in.
His sin was an open transgression at Kadesh: commanded to speak to the rock, he struck it instead, reacting angrily and impatiently to Israel's continual murmuring and rebellion and failing to give God the glory for the miracle of water from the rock. God refused the request because of that fault, yet let him see the land from Pisgah and told him to charge, encourage, and strengthen Joshua, who would lead Israel into it. His honored position, great privileges, closeness to God, and responsibility as teacher and example did not lessen his guilt but made his error especially serious, so even his faithfulness and suffering did not make his public transgression inconsequential and his punishment was certain.
The episode shows that God's word must be obeyed exactly and that God's love and compassion do not make it safe to sin in thought, word, or deed. Moses used his correction as a warning about the consequences of Israel's repeated complaints, whose trials were meant to lead them to call on God for deliverance so he could answer by showing his power and greatness and teaching them to trust him alone.