“The people of Israel… came into the wilderness… And Miriam died there…
“Now there was no water… And the people quarreled with Moses and said,.. ‘Why have you brought the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness, that we should die..? Then Moses and Aaron… fell on their faces. And the glory of the Lord appeared, and the Lord spoke, ‘Take the staff, assemble the congregation,.. and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water…’
“Then Moses… said, ‘Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?’ And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock.., and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank… And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy.., you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.’
“Moses sent messengers to the king of Edom: ‘Please let us pass through your land…’ But Edom said, ‘You shall not pass through’… [and] came out against them with a large army and strong force…
“And Aaron died.” Numbers 20:1-4,6-8,10-12,14,17-18,20,28
Could Moses not avoid perpetual difficulty? The death of his sister whose early intervention saved and paved his life. Incessant grumbling from Israel’s congregation as he tried to manage grief. Pressure that overheated, igniting emotions, prompting God’s sobering chastisement, upending his highest earthly hope. Threatening rejection by Edom of his polite request, resulting in trudging inconvenience. Then the death of Aaron, his brother, mouthpiece, and support. Moses could easily, and justifiably, have given up. But his goal was higher than these temporal troubles, his otherworldly destination beyond these earthly limits. (Exodus 2:1-10; 4:12-16; 17:11-13; Hebrews 11:26-27)
When loss after detour after battle after rejection after regret after criticism after sorrow heap upon our wearying days, we might question God’s call and goodness. We might scramble to rework plans to escape to ease, or give in to discouragement or despair, or give up altogether. How are we to proceed on these paths of endless difficulty and disappointment?
The key to persevering with joy in harsh life and times as God’s own is to keep Him as our goal. He’s our very great reward, the author and finisher of faith. Intimacy with Him gives supernatural grit, fortitude, and vision. Do we stumble at each challenge and get easily waylaid? Or would we accept them as means by which God fits us for forever, and press on with hope? (Genesis 15:1; Philippians 3:12-14; Hebrews 12:2-3; James 1:2-4)
“My goal is God Himself, not joy, nor peace,
Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God;
’Tis His to lead me there—not mine, but His—
At any cost, dear Lord, by any road.
So faith bounds forward to its goal in God,
And love can trust her Lord to lead her there;
Upheld by Him, my soul is following hard
Till God hath full fulfilled my deepest prayer.
No matter if the way be sometimes dark,
No matter though the cost be oft-times great,
He knoweth how I best shall reach the mark,
The way that leads to Him must needs be strait.
One thing I know, I cannot say Him nay;
One thing I do, I press towards my Lord;
My God my glory here, from day to day,
And in the glory there my great Reward.” ~Frances Brook (1896)
Lord, keep me pressing toward the goal.
As the rain and snow 