ODJ: temper, temper!
December 10, 2011
You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry (James 1:19).
READ: Numbers 20:1-13
It was the first month of the 40th year of wandering in the wilderness. Still grieving over the death of his beloved sister Miriam (Numbers 20:1), Moses had to cope with the rebellion of his people. The second generation of Israelites who had been freed from captivity was about to enter the Promised Land. However, they were committing the same mistakes as the previous generation—complaining and thinking of going back to Egypt (vv.2-5, 14:1-4; Exodus 17:1-4). If they rejected God a second time, they could well end up wandering in the desert for another 40 years! A feeling of fear and trepidation seized and overwhelmed Moses.
Year after year, he had somehow taken the ungrateful people under his leadership through one crisis after another. Yet all Moses ever got for his efforts were more complaints and criticisms. Now, in deep grief and sanger, he shouted, “Listen . . . you rebels! . . . Must we bring you water from this rock?” (v.10). Drawing attention to himself, Moses disobeyed God and struck the rock twice (v.11). His prideful disobedience and negative attitude dishonoured God. As a result, Moses was not permitted to enter the Promised Land (v.12).
The psalmist commented, “They made Moses angry, and he spoke foolishly” (Psalm 106:33). When we’re angry, we tend to utter cutting words—harsh and rash ones—which we will certainly regret later. That’s why we must learn to control our anger (Ecclesiastes 7:9; Proverbs 14:29, 16:32).
The apostle James gives us this timely advice: “You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires” (James 1:19-20). Temper that temper! —K.T. Sim
In light of the complaints and rebellion of the people, was Moses’ anger justified? Shouldn’t we be angry at sin? Why or why not? When does anger become a sin?
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