A Terrible Example...

Numbers 20:2-12:

2 Now there was no water for the congregation; so they gathered together against Moses and Aaron.

3 And the people contended with Moses and spoke, saying: "If only we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!

4 Why have you brought up the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our animals should die here?

5 And why have you made us come up out of Egypt, to bring us to this evil place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink."

6 So Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and they fell on their faces. And the glory of the LORD appeared to them.

7 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

8 "Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals."

9 So Moses took the rod from before the LORD as He commanded him.

10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them,"Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?"

11 Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank.

12 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them." NKJV

Here Moses misrepresented the Lord before the people, leading them to believe that God was mad at them, when He was not. For that, Moses was not allowed to enter the promised land.

Moses stands as an everlasting example for those who would be tempted to misrepresent the Lord before the people. James 3:1: "My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment." NKJV

This does not mean that we will lose our salvation; but what it fully means, I do not know. I have no desire to misrepresent the Lord before the people.

God is not mad at His people. He loves His people. Yes, He convicts, rebukes, and corrects His people; but He is never mad at them. He loves them so much that He sent His Son to redeem them from their sins.

Those who represent the Lord before the people: Never forget the example of Moses.

Those who are ministered to by those who represent the Lord: Never forget, God is not mad at you.