The Prophet Moses was chosen by God from the foundations of this world to become His mouthpiece, voice, and emissary. He was saved from destruction during infancy by the spirit of the Lord, causing the daughter of his nation’s enemy to adopt him and raise him. Moses spent his adolescence in a station of privilege as a Prince of Egypt. Through a mixture of compassion and rashness Moses fell from this heightened status to become a refugee in a strange land. Still the Spirit of the Lord watched over Moses, delivering him unto the House of Jethro.
It was here that Moses began to serve his newly established kindred. In this service the Lord was able to speak to and call Moses into HIS service. Though reluctant due to a speech impediment Moses began to trust in God to speak through him. It was through this service that Moses became an instrument whereby the Israelites would be freed and lead through the wilderness to the promised land.
During this journey, the Israelites were faced with many trials which were placed in preparation for their entry into Canaan. Through these trials Moses repeatedly relied upon the Lord to guide and sustain him. However, it is one particular failure that led the Lord to forbid Moses from entering the promised land.
And it came to pass that in the third month after their departing out of the land of Egypt, all the congregation of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin after their journeys, according to the commandment of YHVH, and pitched in Rephidim; and there was no water for the people to drink.
“Wherefore, the people did chide Moses and Zipporah, and said: Give us water that we may drink. And it came to pass that Moses said unto them: Why chide ye me? Wherefore do ye tempt YHVH?
“And Israel thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses and Zipporah, saying: Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt – to kill us, and our children, and our cattle with thirst – thou and thy wife, the foreigner? And Moses cried unto YHVH, saying: What shall I do unto this people? They be almost ready to stone us!
“And YHVH said unto Moses: Go on before the people and take with thee of the Elders of Israel; and thy rod, take in thine hand and go. Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink.
“And it came to pass that Moses did even as he was told in the sight of the Elders of Israel. And Moses called the name of the place Massah and Meribah because of the chiding of Israel and because they tempted YHVH, saying: Is YHVH among us or not?
“But Moses did not give the glory to YHVH, and the Elders of Israel did bless Moses, and YHVH was not pleased. But Zipporah, the wife of Moses, did remember YHVH; and she and Miriam did lead the daughters of Israel in offer libations to remember the blessing of YHVH.
“And YHVH was pleased, and blessed the daughters of YHVH for remembering that all good things come from YHVH.” -3 Moses 25, The Torah of Moses from The Plates of Brass
In this act Moses had forgotten the source of the power by which he was able to perform miracles. He assumed the glory unto himself. His heart was removed from the grace which was intended to ready him to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. And as such, he disqualified himself from entering into it during this mortal probation. Another leader would be called to assume that responsibility.
It is also here that we can see the humbleness of the Prophet’s wife, Zipporah. In her broken heartedness and longing to love the Lord she and the sister of the Prophet lead the women of Israel in praising the act God had performed through Moses. It was from this heartfelt action that God continued to bless and aid the endeavors of the Israelites.
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