Failed Heroes: Moses

Why does it matter that these heroes failed? See introduction to series.

Moses
How was Moses a hero? No other Old Testament character is referred to in the New Testament as often as Moses. (Abraham is a distant second.) Moses is the author of several books of the Bible, as well as a few psalms. He rejected the status and riches of Egypt and followed God instead. Moses is the man who stood before Pharaoh to demand Israel's freedom. He was the visible leader through the ten plagues, the exodus, the parting of the Red Sea, the receiving of the Ten Commandments, and the journey to the Promised Land. He exercised extreme patience with the fractious children of Israel. He faithfully followed God's commands in building the tabernacle. He had an amazing relationship with God that allowed for open communication and that caused his face to shine after meeting with God. He was one of two men chosen to meet with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. God said that since Moses' death, "no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face" (Deuteronomy 34:10). Moses' testimony of faithful obedience to God was so exemplary that it was used to illustrate Jesus' faithfulness (Hebrews 3:2&5).

How did Moses fail? The first instances occurred at the beginning of Moses' ministry. He didn't start out very well. He took the matter of justice for his people into his own hands when he killed an Egyptian (Exodus 2:11). Forty years later, when God was ready to use him, Moses came up with a series of excuses for why he was not the right man (Ex. 3:11-4:13). Later in his ministry, Moses failed by disobeying God's instructions for providing water for the people. Instead of speaking to the rock, he struck it (Numbers 20:11).

What was Moses' heart response? In regards to becoming the leader of God's people, Moses' response was that of submission and obedience. At Moses' reluctance to speak, God had offered Aaron as a spokesperson. At no point in Moses' interactions with Pharaoh or the people, however, is Aaron seen speaking. Instead Moses is consistently the speaker. In spite of his initial reluctance, Moses went on to do what God had asked him to do, regardless of how he viewed his own qualifications. He was submissive to God's plan. Time and time again when God sent Moses to Pharaoh with a message, Moses went and delivered that message. It would seem then that he accepted and depended on the answers that God had given to his excuses - that God would be with him, that the message was from God Himself, that God would give him signs to verify his calling, and that God would help his speech. These promises from God were enough to give Moses the courage to trust God and obey Him.

As far as his disobedience in striking the rock, there is no indication that Moses' response was anything other than submission to God's decree. No argument is expressed in either the Numbers 20 passage or in Deuteronomy 32 & 34, when God carries out the consequences for Moses and reiterates the reason. What is revealed in the aftermath of the event is obedience. Aaron was implicated in the disobedience as well. Unlike Moses, Aaron's consequences came quickly. God instructed Moses to take Aaron aside and pass his priestly garments on to his son, as Aaron was about to die. "So Moses did just as the LORD had commanded" (Num. 20:27). His obedience indicates his submission to God's judgment. In fact, when it was Moses' time to die and God again gave the reason, the only response recorded of Moses is his obedience (Deut. 32:49-52 and 34:1).

How did Moses' story end? Moses died at the edge of the Promised Land, having seen the land (Deut. 34:1-4), but not being allowed to enter it. Although it is sad that he did not experience the culmination of the journey on which he had led Israel, God did give the special blessing of allowing Moses to see the destination. God took Moses on a special trip all by himself just for that reason. The journey had been a long one, lasting over forty years. Moses, who had started that journey back in Egypt and had been with Israel for all those decades, was able to see that God was accomplishing what He had said He would do. God blessed Moses, giving him great physical strength right up to the time of his death, before giving him a special burial place known only to God (Deut. 34:6-7). Israel mourned his death for thirty days (Deut. 34:8), and Moses was respected not only in his own day, but down through the time of Christ, when the Jews still looked to him as great leader (Matthew 23:2, John 9:28).

Application: Moses' initial failure in resisting God's call was resolved when he believed God's promises and did what God asked, even though it was not comfortable to him. He subjected his personal insecurities to God's command, and obediently followed God. Every believer can likewise trust God to enable him to do whatever God requires. Humanly speaking, believers today are no more capable of doing great deeds than Moses was. With the help and promises of God, however, one can obediently follow God and see His plan worked out.

Because of its consequences, the failure at the rock is perhaps more sobering. Due to his disobedience, Moses was not able to enter the Promised Land. What makes the story particularly sad is that an outstanding quality of Moses was his careful obedience to God's instructions. The details for the tabernacle and for worship were very specific, and Moses followed them implicitly. Eight times in Exodus 40:16-32, it is stated that Moses did things "just as the LORD had commanded." On this particular occasion, however, Moses did not obey. God said that Moses "broke faith" with Him (Deut. 32:51). It is commonly believed that Moses struck the rock in a fit of anger with the people (Num. 20:10). For whatever the reason, he had an unguarded moment in which he disobeyed something that he normally would have obeyed. What a sobering reminder that Christians can never take for granted their ability to withstand temptation on their own. There can be no relaxing in the constant spiritual warfare. Instead, there must be constant dependence on God for daily strength, realizing that one is vulnerable even in his most successful points. It only takes a single moment to fall. While God is faithful to forgive those who repent and often continues to use them, there are at times lasting consequences of those choices made in unguarded moments.

"Now Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later." Hebrews 3:5 (NASB)