Holy Mystery
Scripture selection: Numbers 20:12
“But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.’”
It is one of the great and bitter ironies recorded in scripture. After all of his obedience, and all of his faithful following, toward the end of his life Moses made a terrible decision.
That decision cost him the privilege of being able to cross over into the Promised Land with the people.
It seems unfair – even cruel – in a way.
Yet, we must tread softly. After all, it is God we are judging when we entertain such an opinion.
We are on far firmer ground – far holier ground – when we simply acknowledge how important it is to remember God’s holiness and honor it appropriately.
How easy it can be to get caught up in our own sense of importance or what we think is fair or unfair, right or wrong.
It is at such times that we must humbly bow in adoration as the scripture and hymns have through the ages,
“Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty.”
We are simply not in the position, no matter how we might think otherwise to cry out “foul” to God.
On the other hand, as the Psalms point out, we can honestly express that we do not always understand how God has ordered the universe, and why.
As some have said, “It is a mystery” and – at times – that can be difficult to accept.
The consequences, however, of not accepting it – can be costly indeed.
IGW3 - In God's Word, In God's Will, In God's Work 