Testing of Hearts & Emotions

The majority of the Body of Christ is preparing to cross the river Jordan to enter its promise land. Many of God’s children are finding themselves in the fire and dealing with emotions and heart issues they thought were gone or never knew existed. This morning the Lord took me to Numbers 20 and revealed to me a side of Moses I had not seen before.

Verse one in Numbers 20 has the children of Israel in the first month of their fortieth year in the wilderness. They were at Kadesh, the same place where forty years ago the spies were sent out to spy the land. They were coming to the end of their journey, the old generation had passed on, and the leaders of Israel were preparing to cross over to the other side. Moses, Aaron and Miriam were close to realizing the promise they had laid their lives down for. But in verse one we read that Miriam died and was buried in Kadesh. So close to the promise; so close to what the three siblings had longed for.

There are many teachings on this section of scripture, but I would like you to look into the hearts of Moses and Aaron and see what the Holy Spirit revealed to me. They have come to the last year of their journey, and now Miriam dies. In their time of grief, the children of Israel gather against Moses and Aaron, because there is no water. Accusations are flying, contention rising and strife spreading.

Moses and Aaron fall on their faces at the door of the tabernacle of meeting, crying out to the Lord as their hearts break before Him. They are undone. There have been many battles, many victories, they have just buried their sister and in this moment they are spent.

In our own lives we have found ourselves in times of great testing, where it looks like the end is so near...break through and deliverance is at the door. We can hear it knocking! Our hearts have been tested, and our strength seems solid. We are ready! But God knows what still lies deep within our hearts. A trial arises unexpectedly, our hearts faint and we are spent. We cry out to God, " How much more? I’m undone...there is nothing left."

The Lord commanded Moses to speak to the Rock. We know that Moses chose to strike it twice, saying to Israel, "Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?" The Lord knew the anger and frustration that was coming to the surface in Moses’ heart. The test was for Moses to know that even in his weakest moment and greatest trial, the Spirit of the LORD was all that was needed to bring provision. Moses failed the test because he relied on his own strength, and was overtaken by his frustration, brokenness and anger.

This decision not only cost him the honor and joy of bringing his people into the promise land, but four months later the LORD tested him again concerning Aaron. " Aaron shall be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against My word at the water of Meribah…. so Moses did just as the Lord commanded, and they went up to Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. Moses stripped Aaron of His garments and put them on Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain." Numbers 20:24, 27&28

Yes, both of them had rebelled, but the LORD held Moses, as the leader, responsible. The test for Moses…. would he follow the command of the LORD exactly this time? This test was not in private, but in front of the whole congregation and his nephew. The outcome of this test being the death of his beloved older brother. What was the condition of the hearts of Moses and Aaron by this time? Can you see them standing face to face as Moses lifted his arms to remove the priestly garments off of Aaron? During the trip up the mountain were they reflecting on the many times they stood together and also those times when they stood at odds with one another? What about Miriam whom they had buried just four months earlier?

Moses stood staring at his older brother that had helped him deliver the children of Israel from Egypt. Can you see their eyes meeting? I believe that what the LORD showed me is that they found in one another’s eyes, peace. This was the last test for them; they were passing. Their hearts had found peace. They had climbed that mountain not with their own strength, but with the LORD’s. They stood there in front of the whole congregation and immediate family with the cost of their sin exposed to all. They had embraced brokenness and accepted separation knowing it would only be for a short time. They found the peace and strength that comes with full surrender.

The LORD’s message to Israel…. The crossing of the river Jordan into the promise land would not be by the Law (Moses), the Prophet (Miriam), or the Priesthood (Aaron), but by the Spirit-Jesus (Joshua).

We are standing in the last of our forty years of wandering as the body of Christ.

The Lord is testing the hearts of many and some feel as if the LORD has forsaken them. When breakthrough seems within reach, our own hearts seem to betray us. Where the body of Christ is heading, only the spirit of the LORD can take us there. Hold fast to your faith, knowing full well that the reigns of your hearts are being tested. The end result will be a place of surrender, having all that is not of the LORD purged out of our hearts. We are being prepared to house His glory, vessels full of His faith and His strength! Children who have truly died and been resurrected by His Spirit!

Great Grace!

Deborah Voetberg Women Of Influence www.judges5.com judges_5@msn.com