The Bottom Line, Ministries Christian News, Articles, & Poetry 
One of the most significant stories in all of the Bible is what God told Moses to do in the wilderness when people were desperate for water. This was the time when God provided water out of a rock that is recorded in Exodus 17:6. “… you shall strike the rock and water will come out of it, and the people will drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.”
This happened a second time. Numbers 20:8-13 says, “… tell the rock before their eyes to yield as water… and Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank and their livestock…” Do you see the difference between the two? The first time God told Moses to strike the rock, but the second time he told him to speak to it. However, Moses did not do what God told him to do. He struck the rock again instead of speaking to it. What happened as a result of his disobedience? “Because you did not believe in me, to hold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.”
Before Moses died, God reminded him that he will not enter the promised land because of his disobedience of striking the rock when he was told to speak to it. All through scripture it can be seen that God gives specific instructions for doing things. One good example is found in Joshua 6:2-5 when the people of Israel were in the battle for Jericho. They were told to march around the city once for six days. On the seventh day, they were told to march around the city seven times and the priests to blow the trumpets. At the sound of the trumpets, the people were to shout with a great shout, and the walls would come tumbling down. As a result of doing exactly what God told them to do there was a tremendous victory. What would have happened if they had marched around the city only six times instead of seven? Would they have forfeited a victory? Something to think about!
What is the application in this story for all Christians? It is to take God at his word exactly as he says as a test of faith and obedience, even if it does not make any sense to us. I wonder if Moses thought that since striking the rock worked the first time he will do it again. But as a result, he was denied entrance to the promised land and did not experience God’s best.
Are we as Christians doing exactly what God says to do? If not, we are probably not experiencing God‘s best for our lives, and not seeing God do wondrous things. His instructions will never lead us down a dead end. For God to speak to us, our lives must be free of the distraction and noise of the world. We must be studying his word and praying and open to his voice. Then step out in faith and obedience to do exactly what he says.
THANKS JOHN
KEEO DOING WHAT HE WANTS YOU TO DO
We see this in the life of king Saul. He was told not to spare an evil people who were their enemy and all their flocks as well but he spared their king and the best of their flocks. The Lord spoke to a godly man chosen to be a judge of Israel saying that He greatly regretted that He allowed Saul to be king over the land of Israel for Saul didn’t follow after God’s commands completely.
Though Saul made excuses, he lost the kingdom for his actions and his son wouldn’t sit on the throne after his death.
His reasoning was that he obeyed yet he admitted that he spared their king but he blamed the people in his military for allowing the best of these animals to be taken for a sacrifice to the Lord. This was an insult to God by even trying to justify his actions.
Even if this was true, the king had his orders from God but he allowed the people to do what they wanted instead of commanding them to do otherwise. What a strong rebuke and loss that came upon his family members for the decision he made.
We all mess up at times and excuses seem to be our defense. We are so grateful that God offers grace when we are honest with ourselves and with Him. He will forgive and restore our fellowship with Him even if there are consequences to our actions.