CLOSE, BUT NO CIGAR

“Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.”
Numbers 20:11

You’ve heard the old saying, “Close only counts in horseshoes and hang grenades,” right? It seems like it would make sense. In horseshoes you want to ring the post. However, getting pretty close will still allow for a point. And in hand grenades, the solider always wants to hit his target, but is just as pleased if he gets anywhere close to his target and destroys the enemy or enemy’s base. But I question in what other areas we tend to think that close is good enough. I gave this some thought while writing today’s Torah thoughts and came up with a couple areas. The first area that came to mind was in medication. I think of the times I have a headache or some type of pain and the medicine may not take the full degree of pain away, but it will relieve it enough. Another area that came to mind was in area of dating relationships. I question, do we save all the intimacy for the wedding night, or do we just get close? And lastly, what about being close in the area of obedience? Do we walk out all that Adonai says, or do we just obey enough?
A storm blew through not long ago and knocked out the power in my apartment. As I expected, my kids were scared and needed comfort as the sun went down. By the light of our camping lantern we began to read the Bible and Adonai opened my eyes once more to a story I had read many times before. In Numbers 20, we find Moshe and the Isra’elites at the Desert of Zin, specifically at Kadesh. The people began to complain and grumble and demand water. Moshe and Aharon went and sought Adonai as to what they should do concerning water for the people. Adonai’s response was , “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aharon 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” (Ex 20:8).
Now Moshe and Aharon gathered the people as Adonai had told them, and with the staff in hand, they approached the rock. Moshe then raised his hand and struck the rock twice. Water gushed out of the rock and, as Adonai had promised, provided plenty so that the people and the animals all were able to drink their fill. But following this miracle, Adonai gave Moshe bad news. “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Isra’elites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them” (Num 20:12).
Now wait a minute, what did Moshe do wrong? Why was he being stripped of this honor to lead the people into the land of Promise? Let’s look at Adonai’s command verses the steps Moshe took. Adonai wanted Moshe to speak to the rock, but Moshe hit the rock. Adonai still brought about provision for His people, despite their complaining and all, but because of Moshe’s disobedience, He was punished. Partial obedience is still disobedience. He did right in gathering the people and having the staff in hand, but it was the hitting verses the speaking that was not followed through. He got close, but no cigar.
This is a lesson we all need to learn now. We cannot disobey in anything Adonai tells us and still expect punishment not to happen. Yes, Yeshua paid the price for the forgiveness of our sin, but the law of sowing and reaping still exists. Punishment still follows sin. I personally do not want to get to heaven and hear Adonai say I was close. No, I want to hear Adonai say, “Well done.” Let’s leave close to horseshoes and hand grenades, but make exact obedience the target with Adonai.

Numbers 19:1-17
Numbers 19:18 – 20:6
Numbers 20:7-13
Numbers 20:14-21
Numbers 20:22 – 21:5