The following is a repost from http://www.watchmanscry.com. Brother Nathan Neal wrote this back in 09/27/09 and just reposted it with the following intro –
Dearest Brethren,
As many of you know we are facing some great challenges in the coming future. The economy is teetering on the edge of a cliff. The drums of war are sounding. Fukushima Reactor 4 is being held together by the mercy of God. The threats of upheaval are pronounced and they are many. With all of these issues facing us, one can become overwhelmed with despair. But despair can only thrive in our hearts and minds if we overlook God. Beyond all of the fog of events, we must not forget that God is still on His throne. He is watching us. He also has His Mercy and Grace freely available to any of us that seek it. So in light of the present time, I felt led to share with you a very special sermon that the Holy Spirit gave me to preach several years ago. This message is applicable now more than ever. I pray that it will be a blessing to you all and also, please share it with others.
In Christ,
Nathan Leal
Watchman’s Cry
Get Your House in Order
Today’s message is about a Biblical character that is found in the Old Testament. This person worked for God and one day something happened to him!
……Something unexpected!
On this day, he had a visitation. God said something. It was a message.
Most likely, the day of this message began like any other day; He woke up in the morning. He said, “Hello” to his family. He ate his breakfast. He got dressed and he went to work.
As he walked by his neighbors, he probably said, “Hello and good morning,” to them.
But this day was not a typical day because on this day he received a message that would change everything for him.
Who was this person? His name was Aaron. He was the brother of Moses and he was also the High Priest of Israel.
As the High Priest, his duty was to minister to God on behalf of the children of Israel who were dwelling in the wilderness.
This Biblical account is found in Numbers, chapter 20.
“And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying, Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah.” Numbers 20:23 – 24
The water of Meribah; this was the place where the children of Israel were in need of water. They complained to Moses that they had no water and as usual, they blamed him for it.
Moses took the matter to God. God instructed Moses to speak to a large rock at Meribah and water would then flow out of it.
Unfortunately, Moses was angry at the people for complaining and in his anger, he failed to speak to the rock. Instead, he struck it! And worse, he struck it twice!
Because of this disobedience, God became angry with Moses. (The reason for God’s anger is an entire other sermon, but in summary, the rock represented Our Savior Jesus and His death on the cross. It was not to be struck twice.)
This brings us to where we are in this account.
As we just read, God delivered a message to Moses;
“…Aaron shall be gathered unto his people…”
As Moses received this message, can you picture Aaron’s reaction? Aaron may have been standing next to Moses or nearby, when he got the news of his life.
I can imagine his thoughts after he heard those words, “Uh… gathered? What does that mean?”
God explained more…
Gates of the City 