Have you ever read Scripture and wondered what it means? Then later you hear the answer in a sermon or reading a book. God will answer our questions and we may not recognize that it was He Who answered them.

A recent poll indicated that 34% of Protestants and 67% of Catholics support same-sex marriage. Having had a number of employees and friends who are gay state that “this is how God made me”, my son and I were discussing what the Bible thinks of same-sex marriage. We happen to see a comment made by an individual that seemed to answer our question. The person wrote: “You don’t pray to take the sin nature away, you’re human, you’re stuck with it, you pray to FIGHT the temptation and to live a life denying yourself and surrendering to the will of Christ. Just because I’m married but have a lustful eye for other women does not give me license to entertain those thoughts and engage in adultery. We’re broken, we’re all messed up, but you take all those troubles to the cross, and live a new life in Christ. Your old self is dead, and a new man is born. You live after the Spirit, not after the flesh.”

Another question, if we held a poll, how many Christians would agree or disagree with the following Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 6:9 – 10 – “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” NKJV Jeremiah 3:2 – 3 – “You have defiled the land with your prostitution and wickedness. Therefore the showers have been withheld, and no spring rains have fallen.” Jeremiah 6:19 – “Hear, you earth: I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their schemes, because they have not listened to my words and have rejected my law.” NIV

I have another question that I would like an answer. It is found in the Old Testament and it is how Moses was treated when he was told by God that he would not enter the Promised Land. Scripture says that Moses put up with rebellious Jews and at times he believed they would stone him. I would think God would have taken him to the high mountain, thanked him for his years of obedience and trust but tell him it was time to select a new leader, more of a warrior/general type because they had to defeat the people possessing the Promise Land. That is not what happened. Following is some background information.

Exodus 17:3 – 6 – “But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?” Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.” The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. “

Numbers 20:4 – 8 – “Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!” Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. The Lord said to 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.”

The first time Moses was told to use the staff and water would pour out. The second time God told him to speak to the rock and water would come out. However, Moses chose to do it his way and did not follow God’s instructions. He gave an angry lecture, hit the rock with his staff and failed to give God the glory. The Bible said that Moses did all of this in anger and frustration.

The Lord punished Moses and Aaron because of their actions. This was the reason God gave for not allowing them to see their 40 year dream of entering the Promise Land. God held Aaron just as responsible for not speaking up and stopping Moses from using his staff. Does that mean if we see something that is not right and do nothing about it, we will be held equally responsible?

However, when Jesus was at the Transfiguration, Moses was there. The two witnesses that will live and preach for 3½ years during the Tribulation that are killed and then raptured, one we think will be Moses and the other Elijah. It has to be that disobedience to God causes negative consequences regardless who you are. Most every major figure in the Bible was disobedient and paid a price. This must be a lesson for us to follow and not be disobedient. Colossians 3:6 – “Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience.”

It is quite evident that Moses and Aaron were punished for disobeying. Our being obedient is how we show honor to God. What is our responsibility as Christians seeing our government and judicial system denying God’s Commandments and His moral ways? In the Old Testament when government and religious leaders disobeyed God, the entire population often received punishment. Is this what we may expect?