The book I got was volume 3 and the story was about the Israelites journey to the promise land. The story started after they had crossed the red sea. It was a new discovery for me. I mean, what I recently read I never heard before. I thought Moses wasn't able to go to the promised land because he killed someone when he was younger. Maybe it was one of the reason. But no. The main reason he wasn't able to go to the Canaan was because of disobedience to God. Well, in the first place, killing someone is also disobedience.
It happened this way. The Israelites were impatient again and started to complain about not having water. It would have been better for them to have stayed in Egypt where they have enough supply even for their animals. It was the same old story, the same old complaint. Just as soon as things began to go wrong, they wished they were back in Egypt, and were ready to blame Moses for all their troubles.
As usual, Moses and Aaron would turn to God for help. Of course, the Lord would always be there to help them out. The Lord told Moses to gather the people in an assembly and speak on a rock before their eyes and the water will come out. I supposed because of the stubborness of the Israelites, Moses got impatient and angry that He forgot the Lord's instruction. So he smote the rock twice and the water gushed forth.
The Lord got angry. He told Moses how he disobeyed His instruction. As punishment, he and Aaron were not permitted to enter into the promised land. The two were very sad. After all that they have been through. The trials that they have endured. The very long journey that they have travelled. It was Moses' greatest dream to bring to the promised land the Israelites himself. He tried to talk about it again to God but he was snubbed. Moses and Aaron died before the people journeyed to Canaan and they were led by Joshua.
With what I read, I was reminded of how important it is for the Lord that we obey Him. He was so strict that even Moses, His faithful servant, He didn't spare. But the Lord still love them. He didn't blame them from failing to understand but for failing to believe and obey.
The same is true in our present life. We may be forgiven from all our sins, but the consequences or the corresponding punishment of what we did, we are not free.
Hence, it is important to "Always obey the Lord and you will be happy. If you are stubborn, you will be ruined." Prov 28:14
Stubborness can ruin us. The longer it takes us to do what God wants us to do, the further we get away from what he wants.
God's words are a message to obey, not just hear.
"It is obedience which gives merit to all our actions and renders them pleasing to God"
----St. Vincent de Paul.
