“Moses and Aaron told the people to meet together in front of the rock. Then Moses said, ‘You people are always complaining. Now listen to me. I will cause water to flow from this rock.’ Moses lifted his arm and hit the rock twice. Water began flowing from the rock, and the people and their animals drank that water. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘You did not trust me enough to honor me and show the people that I am holy. You did not show the Israelites that the power to make the water came from me. So you will not lead the people into the land that I have given them’” (Numbers 20:10-12 ERV).

Later in the story, the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “‘It is time for Aaron to die and go to be with his ancestors. Aaron will not enter the land that I promised to the Israelites. Moses, I say this to you because both you and Aaron did not fully obey the command I gave you at the waters of Meribah’” (Numbers 20:21 ERV). I often will get the question: “Why did Aaron die and not both Moses and Aaron for their mistake?” From reading Numbers 20 the message that I obtained was that when you sin, you will be forgiven, but their will always be a consequence. But, I truly believe that God had a purpose with the death of Aaron. I believe that it was Aaron’s time to go to motivate Moses in a way to live out the purpose God called him to pursue: leading the children of Israel to the promise land. Remember, in the beginning of Exodus, God spoke to Moses through a burning bush to tell him his purpose of freeing and leading the children of Israel. God didn’t mention Aaron until Moses had his doubts about being able of pursuing this purpose that God laid out for him. The perspective that I am obtaining from this story was that the consequence for both Aaron and Moses’ sin may have been different, but for two different purposes. Aaron’s purpose was fulfilled which was giving Moses confidence. Moses’ purpose was still in progress and Aaron’s death was God’s way of bringing Moses and the Israelites together to fully pursue God’s plan to bring them all to the promise land.

If anyone who is reading this has a different perspective please leave a comment and I would love to read each one. I hope this message motivated you to live out God’s purpose that He has for us. We all have a God-given purpose. Don’t let the devil tell you otherwise.

“For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts” (1 Thessalonians 2:4 NLT).

Amen.