DAY 15 - DAILY QUESTION ABOUT GOD'S WORD (WHY WAS MOSES NOT ALLOWED TO ENTER THE PROMISED LAND?)

June 8

Question: "Why was Moses not allowed to enter the Promised Land?"

Answer: In Numbers 20:8, the Lord told Moses, "Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink." Numbers 20:9-11 records Moses' response: "So Moses took the staff from the LORD's presence, just as He commanded him. He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, ‘Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?’ Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank." The Lord was displeased with Moses’ actions: “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them” (Numbers 20:12).

What did Moses do that warranted such a severe penalty from the Lord? First, Moses disobeyed a direct command from God. God had commanded Moses to speak to the rock. Instead, Moses struck the rock with his staff. Second, Moses took the credit for bringing forth the water. Notice how in verse 10 Moses says, "Must we [referring to Moses and Aaron] bring you water out of this rock?" Moses took credit for the miracle himself, instead of attributing it to God. Third, Moses committed this sin in front of all the Israelites. Such a public example of direct disobedience could not go unpunished. Fourth, it seems that God had intended to present a type of Christ in this circumstance. The water-giving rock is used as a symbol of Christ in 1 Corinthians 10:4. The rock was struck once in Exodus 17:6, just like Christ was crucified once (Hebrews 7:27). Moses’ speaking to the rock in Numbers 20 was to be a picture of prayer; instead, Moses angrily struck the rock, in effect, crucifying Christ again. His punishment for disobedience, pride, and the misrepresentation of Christ’s sacrifice was that he was barred from entering the Promised Land (Numbers 20:12).

Recommended Resources: Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers Holman Old Testament Commentary by Glen Martin.
Leviticus & Numbers: The NIV Application Commentary by Roy Gane.

While he is not the author of every article on GotQuestions.org, for citation purposes, you may reference our CEO, S. Michael Houdmann.

DAY 15 - DAILY HISTORY - AMERICAN MINUTE FOR JUNE 8, 2013

June 8

American Minute for June 8th:

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On JUNE 8, 1845, "Old Hickory" died.

Slashed by a sword as a boy for not polishing a British soldiers boots during the Revolutionary War, his mother died of cholera caring for American prisoners.

He later fought the Seminole Indians and, in the War of 1812, defeated the British in New Orleans.

He was governor of the Florida Territory, and is credited with proposing the name "Tennessee" at that State's first convention.

His name was Andrew Jackson.

Fighting in duels, most notably to defend his wife's honor, he carried bullet fragments in his body. He survived assassination attempts.

His wife Rachel died just three months before he took office as the 7th U.S. President.

Andrew Jackson stated in his 2nd Inaugural:

"It is my fervent prayer to that Almighty Being before whom I now stand, and who has kept us in His hands from the infancy of our Republic to the present day...that He will...inspire the hearts of my fellow-citizens that we may be preserved from danger."

On December 30, 1836, Andrew Jackson wrote to his nephew, Colonel Andrew Jackson Donelson, upon the death of his wife, Emily, who had served as the unofficial First Lady of the United States:

"We cannot recall her, we are commanded by our dear Saviour, not to mourn for the dead, but for the living...

She has changed a world of woe for a world of eternal happiness, and we ought to prepare as we too must follow...'The Lord's will be done on earth as it is in heaven.'"

Considered the founder of the modern Democrat Party, Jackson was criticized for his role in the Indian Removal Act, but praised for ending the corrupt Bank of the United States and paying off the national debt, the only time in U.S. history that was done.

Of the Bible, Andrew Jackson stated:

"That book, Sir, is the Rock upon which our republic rests."


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DAY 14 - DAILY BIBLE VERSE (FALSE PROPHETS) - JUNE 7, 2013

June 7

Matthew 7:15-16 (The Voice Bible)

15 Along the way, watch out for false prophets. They will come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath that quaint and innocent wool, they are hungry wolves. 16 But you will recognize them by their fruits. You don’t find sweet, delicious grapes growing on thorny bushes, do you? You don’t find delectable figs growing in the midst of prickly thistles.

DAY 14 - DAILY DEVOTION - JUNE 7, 2013

June 7


When WHY Isn’t Answered
Posted on May 31, 2012 by katherine


Are you like me and have asked God some serious questions of “Why” something happened. And, to make matters worse- no answer was given? It seemed you were going along in life just fine, doing your best to live for God. Until, all of a sudden, like a whirlwind, everything around you was completely devastated.

I know another person who can relate- Job. Job had some horrible un-imaginable things happen in his life. It says that Job lived righteously & loved God. He was doing everything right, yet he lost his family, everything he owned, and suffered horrendous physical things like: boils (2:7), itching (2:8), drastic change of appearance (2:12), worms and running sores (7:5), corroding bones and gnawing pain (30:17), blackened skin and fever (30:30), and this happened over several months (7:3; 29:2).

Can you imagine going through all of that and still being able to say, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.” Job 13:15 KJV

I am learning even though I don’t understand and may never completely understand the “Whys” God is so faithful and He can be trusted. We must continue trusting God no matter what may come our way. His mercies are new every morning!

God has such a compassionate heart for us, and I believe God sees and understands our tears, mourning, and even emotional break downs. But, in the midst of it all, we must not let our mouths sin against God. Resolve in your mind & with your mouth that you will continue trusting God and believing everything will work out for your good. The devil wants us to give up and sin against God with our mouths. The Bible says that Job didn’t sin with his lips against God. Instead, he said, “…The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”

You may feel like giving up right now. I want to encourage you with a scripture from Galatians 6, “Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time, we will reap a harvest of blessing, if we don’t give up.”

Look at the harvest Job reaped for not giving up. He was rewarded to an even better wealthy state, a bigger family and his daughters were the most beautiful in the land, Job went on to live one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations.

I see great reward coming! Join me in shouting from the rooftops: Blessed be the Name of the Lord and don’t worry about the “Why’s”. In fact, let the “Why’s” go in Jesus Name! Blessed be the Name of the Lord!

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him” Job 13:15 KJV

DAY 14 - DAILY PRAYER (GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS) - JUNE 7, 2013

June 7

All Knowing Father God,

Thank You for allowing us to know You Father; to know Your Son, and to have the very indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit within us.  You have set us apart for Yourself, and away from this world in which we live.  You have named us, and have counted each hair upon our head in great love for us.  With this great love, You have called us to follow You to the end of time...to stand upon the rock of salvation, and to not lose our footing. To hold tightly to Your truths, and to not become imitators of the world. How then Father is it that the enemy comes against us in the form of false prophets?  How is it that the enemy tries to steal us away from Your grasp, even to the end of our time here on earth?  Your word has warned us against false prophets (teachers), and the appearance that they may take to lure us away from Your truths.  They come in the form of great spectacles - television celebrities, sports figures, government leaders, and the wealthy.  Their very talk can often lead us away from the safety of Your fold, straight into the schemes of the enemy.  Their promises of 'miracles' and a 'new life' should cause fear in our hearts, but we are often mesmerized by their captivating image and flowing speech.  Father, help us to see them for what they really are, and to filter out their lies through the truth of Your word.  When they tell us that we can be healed through Eastern practices and rituals, or made joyful through meditation and self exploration, allow the light of truth to uncover their true scheme.  Help us to weed out the deception of idolizing these agents of the enemy, and allow our focus to lock onto the one true lover of our souls, Your son Jesus Christ.  May those with an agenda of deception that come into our lives be opposed by Your might. May the enemy be defeated, and his plans to kill, steal, and destroy be overthrown in the name of Your son, Jesus Christ.

We ask these things in the precious name of Jesus Christ.  Amen!

Wally Ziolo
Founder - 40DAYPRAYER4USA
Lancaster, Ohio USA