When the water dried up in Kadesh, and the people brought their pointed complaint to Moses, God told him to “speak to that rock… and it will pour out its water.” Moses chose to strike the rock twice with his staff instead. Water still gushed from the rock, but Moses lost something by not honoring God.
At times, people in authority over me have seemed like that rock: set in their ways, hardened, difficult to relate to… What if God’s word to me is the same as his word to Moses? Speak to that rock.
There are blessings that can only come through the people God has placed in authority over me – blessings like the water the Israelite community so desperately needed in Kadesh. In order to continue my journey, I need the water that flows from them: wisdom, protection, guidance, compassion, assistance...
When an authority figure has what I need, and I know I can’t go on without it, I'm faced with an age-old impasse: Will I speak to that rock or strike it? Often the temptation to strike the rock is strong. Dishonor takes many forms – some are harsh, some are cold, some are glossed with politeness. All of them make the person in authority over me a little less human.
I'm only just beginning to understand what my dishonoring actions have cost me over the years. Moses lost the dream of taking his people all the way into their promised homeland. He got what he wanted in the moment, but he fell short of his ultimate goal.
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8 comments:
It is amazing how few people will confront another regardless of what payoff may come from it. Jesus confronted many but always in love and repect regardless how difficult the subject matter. I think this is something we as Christians should work on as the world watches closely when we are put to this test...confrontation with honor and respect.
I realized a few years ago that I’d been misapplying the Golden Rule for most of my life. Without really thinking about it, I had figured that “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” meant being nice and not confronting people.
But it has dawned on me that I don’t really want others to treat me that way: rather, I want the truth. And as much as possible, I want it delivered with kindness. Truth-telling coveys honor.
Truth-telling does in fact convey honor and it's one of life's hardest lessons to learn. Small children figure out pretty early that sometimes stretching the truth or embellishing the truth grabs alot more attention than be straight up. It takes some pretty stiff consequences for some of us to see the light. Peter struggled with these issues I think, and boy were his consequences tough.
What do you see as Peter's toughest consequences?
(And if you're willing, give a brief description of who Peter is/was; for those soul-friends who might be unfamiliar with him.)
Peter was a fisherman both literally and figuratively. He was one of Jesus "go to guys" you might say. He was strongwilled and passionate in the way he approached his life and ministry. His consequence for his dishonesty and lies was a major separation from his savior, leader and teacher. He betrayed the one man he had given up his whole life to follow, in so doing he disgraced and betrayed himself.
Good answer! But surely there must be a sequel...
I think that peter like moses fell to his humaness, It seems as thou they both lost them selves in there prosuit of gloryfing there maker and honoring their true beliefs. I sometimes ask myself what stone have I struck instead of talked to or reason with, this question like most we put on our selves can be a guild for where we need to work on our selves.
When I read the Story, I'm amazed and inspired by Peter's willingness to climb back onboard. I have not always given myself permission to be restored by God after I've fallen.
I'm using fallen to mean any missing of the good stuff of life, like an opportunity to express kindness or encourage someone or share a burden... It means far more than just the vices we normally associate with falling/sinning -- it really comes down to relational dishonor.
And that's what Peter had done. That he was so ready to respond to Jesus' invitation to return to their relationship is a wonderful encouragement to me.
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