Anger Issues! | Numbers 20:1-13, Psalm 57:1-3 | When Anger Strikes

Continuing in our anger management class this week, Moses and Aaron serve up today’s lesson. Frustrated by the complaints of the Israelites, they acted out in anger instead of trusting in God. This resulted in the consequence of not being allowed to enter the Promised Land. Let’s start off in the book of Numbers.

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Transcription:

If you read your Bible four times a week, your anger issues drop by 32%. That is significant. Welcome to the Bible for Busy People. My name is Erica. I’m your host, and it’s why we’re talking about anger this week. Are you familiar with the Mucinex commercial? You know the one with the green blobby guy? He’s like supposed to be mucus personified. And the whole idea is that Mucinex drives him out of your body; right out of your sinuses. And that’s what you and I are doing this week by studying what God’s Word has to say about anger. And today we are going to read a story about Moses and Aaron. They were the two brothers. God called to lead the Israelites out of slavery. God rescued them just like he rescued us from our sins. And I got to say, a lot happened between the parting of the Red Sea, that glorious mountaintop moment. And when the Israelites set foot in the promised land, there was a whole lot of complaining that went on during that time. A whole lot of, “Hey, we had it better in Egypt than we do now.” And Moses and Aaron got the brunt of all those complaints. So, with that in mind, join me in Numbers Chapter 20 verse one.

In the first month of the year, the whole community of Israel arrived in the wilderness of Zin and camped at Kadesh. While they were there, Miriam died and was buried.

Miriam, by the way, was the sister of Moses and Aaron.

There was no water for the people to drink at that place, so they rebelled against Moses and Aaron. 3 The people blamed Moses and said, “If only we had died in the Lord’s presence with our brothers! 4 Why have you brought the congregation of the Lord’s people into this wilderness to die, along with all our livestock? 5 Why did you make us leave Egypt and bring us here to this terrible place? This land has no grain, no figs, no grapes, no pomegranates, and no water to drink!”

Talk about a sour grapes attitude, right? Do you hear the anger in those words? They were so frustrated. They’re looking around and they’re going, Where is God? This doesn’t look like the promised land. But you see, they weren’t there yet. Picking the story back up. Now, in verse six.

Moses and Aaron turned away from the people and went to the entrance of the Tabernacle, where they fell face down on the ground.

Now, I want to pitch a small tent here and mention that Moses and Aaron first do the right thing. They are frustrated by the frustration of the people, and they went to God. In that time, God lived in the tabernacle. That’s where his presence was. So they went to seek him, probably like you and I do in the middle of a crazy day, or when a million problems are flying us. It’s like, God, just help me God. Where are you? Jesus, are you there? Right. Okay, so let’s pick up the story again.

Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to them, 7 and the Lord said to Moses, 8 “You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its water. You will provide enough water from the rock to satisfy the whole community and their livestock.”9 So Moses did as he was told. He took the staff from the place where it was kept before the Lord. 10 Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock.

Now, here’s where things take a little turn.

“Listen, you rebels!” he shouted. “Must we bring you water from this rock?” 11 Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill.

Now, I dunno if you noticed, but Moses had a bit of an angry moment there. He probably felt like we do as parents sometimes. Like enough, I’m done. That’s it. I guess you could call it a temper tantrum. Even biblical patriarchs apparently had those. Makes you feel a little bit better, doesn’t it? Alright, we’re going to pick up the hardest part of this story now in verse 12.

But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!” 13 This place was known as the waters of Meribah (which means “arguing”) because there the people of Israel argued with the Lord, and there he demonstrated his holiness among them.

So because of Moses’ rash actions rooted in anger and frustration, he and Aaron did not get to set foot in the promised land like the rest of God’s people. That was a severe punishment. But I want you to notice something, because I’ve never noticed it before. Anger got in the way of something very important for Moses and Aaron. Instead of trusting God, instead of leaning into him for strength and support, they chose anger. How often do you and I choose anger over trusting God? We are going to get the revenge. We’re going to solve the situation. We’re going to take the matter into our own hands and we wrest the wheel back from Jesus. And if we can just stop in those moments, count to three, count to 30, whatever you need, and remind yourself, and I need to remind myself, to trust God instead. Because just like so much happened between the Red Sea rescue and the Promised Land, so much is going to happen between the time God rescues you. That moment when you become a follower of Christ and the time that you step foot into heaven and we can trust the Lord with all of it. All of it.

Okay, let’s wrap up today with the first three verses of Psalm 57. If you are angry, this is the perfect prayer to pray right now.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by. 2 I cry out to God Most High,[b] to God who will fulfill his purpose for me. 3 He will send help from heaven to rescue me, disgracing those who hound me. My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness.

Oh, believe that today my friend and I will too. I promise. Let’s trust him together. Until next time, you are loved.

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