1. Principles of Authority: The waters of Meribah
Numbers 20:1-13
Based on a sermon by Kris Emerson

2. God has the right to change the law.
Numbers 20:8 – Moses was told to speak to the rock. He struck it and God punished him.
Exodus 17:5-6 – Earlier he was told to strike the rock.
Did Moses have a point of contention or justification with God?
No. God changed the Law and it eliminated the first and any other law.
Old law is not a source of authority for us. Matthew 28:18, Hebrews 8:6-13

3. God is Honored when His Will is Respected.
Did Moses and Aaron mean disrespect to God?
Numbers 20:12 – “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me…”
Moses’ failure to follow the pattern was unbelief
Disobedience = unbelief; 1 Peter 2:6-9, Leviticus 10:1-2
Numbers 27:12-14
Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16

4. Abundant Righteousness does not Cover Wrongdoing.
Numbers 20:8-9; Moses was a godly man and started as god had commanded him.
All of his godliness didn’t avert the punishment. Numbers 20:12
I Timothy 2:11-13; I Corinthians 14:34-35

5. The Ends do not Justify the Means
What’s the big deal here? the water did come out of the rock. Numbers 20:11
The means matter to god! Numbers 20:22-26; Deuteronomy 34:4-5
God handles results. He wants obedience. 1 Corinthians 3:5-7, 1 Samuel 15:22
The work of the church and use of the treasury are limited to what God has authorized. Colossians 3:17

6. Disobedience is Equal to Rebellion.
Would you call Moses and Aaron rebellious people?
God did. Number 20:23-24
1 Samuel 15:22-23
Is baptism necessary for salvation?