“The Lord was angry with me on your account,” said Moses. The whole congregation knew about the transgression. If God had passed it by lightly, the people would have thought that a leader’s impatience under great pressure might be excused. But when Moses and Aaron were not to enter Canaan because of that one sin, the people knew that God does not play favorites.
People of all future time must see the God of heaven as impartial, one who never justifies sin. God’s goodness and love prompt Him to deal with sin as an evil that is fatal to the peace and happiness of the universe.
God had forgiven the people for greater transgressions, but He could not deal with sin in the leaders the same way He did in those who were led. He had honored Moses above every other person on earth. The fact that he had been blessed with such great light and knowledge made his sin more serious. Past faithfulness will not make up for one wrong act. Greater light and privileges given to someone only make failure less excusable and the resulting punishment heavier.
Moses’ sin was a common one. The psalmist says that “he spoke rashly with his lips” (Psalm 106:33). To human judgment this may seem a small thing, but if God dealt so severely with this sin in His most faithful and honored servant, He will not excuse it in others. The spirit of self-exaltation, the tendency to condemn our fellow believers, is not pleasing to God. The more important one’s position, the greater the need to cultivate patience and humility.
If those in positions of responsibility take to themselves the glory that is due to God, Satan has gained a victory. Every impulse of our nature and leaning of the heart needs to be under the control of the Spirit of God moment by moment. Therefore however great our light, however much we may enjoy God’s favor, we should always walk humbly before the Lord, pleading in faith that God will control every impulse.
The burdens placed on Moses were very great. Few people will ever be as severely tested as he was, yet this did not excuse his sin. No matter how great the pressure brought on a person, sinning is our own act. It is not in the power of earth or hell to force anyone to do evil. No matter how severe or unexpected the temptation, God has provided help for us, and in His strength we may conquer.
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