The Beaten Path

Based on Numbers 19-20, Psalm 34

"For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him." Luke 20:38.

Jesus came to make a way for us to be cleansed, purified & redeemed from sin & death. Death is always correlated with sin, because sin leads to death! Jesus' ultimate death & sacrifice leads us unto eternal life! Why? Because he died WITHOUT SIN! He died clean! Death could not hold Him. He traveled a beaten path, being innocent. So, cleaning oneself from being around a dead body is emphasized, even in the Old Testament! Let's jump back into Moses & Aaron's journey with the Israelites:

"This is the law, when a man dieth in a tent: all that come into the tent, and all that is in the tent, shall be unclean seven days." Numbers 19:14.

There always is a purification process for sin, and there's always a purification process for death. Now, through repentance, baptism in Jesus' Name & receiving the Holy Ghost, we are cleansed & can look forward to eternal life! Again, it's all because of Jesus' beaten path. It is sad to think of all who took their frustration out on Jesus, beating Him on His walk to Calvary. Our sin lashed out at The One who died to give us everlasting life. We have to be careful how we express our anger. We don't want to take it out on anyone, especially God! We need to let go of the carnal nature & take hold of the spiritual!

Even Moses took out his frustration on God's people, but ultimately, he was angry with God for having to deal with the behavior of the rebellious people. The people complained to Moses, saying:

"And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink." Numbers 20:5.

The people had yet to understand that the absence of their needs meant God would provide. So, Moses & Aaron went & desperately prayed to God, and this is what He said:

"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, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink." Numbers 20:8.

Moses was told to SPEAK to the rock. Instead, Moses speaks to the rebellious people:

"And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them." Numbers 20:10‭-‬12.

...And not only does he speak to the rebellious people, he smiles the rock! He takes his anger out on God by not obeying His command to speak to the rock instead! Because of this, Moses & Aaron would not enter the promised land with the rest of God's people. This may seem harsh, but remember, this all points to the beaten path Jesus travelled for us:

"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5.

How often do we smite our Rock, Jesus Christ? How often do we give back to Him the wounds He already took? Let's remember not to blame God in our desolate circumstances, but realize that He WILL provide for us in those times of need!

"The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate." Psalms 34:22.