SPEAK NO MORE OF THIS MATTER
“I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon. But the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the LORD said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter.” Deuteronomy 3:25, 26
Moses was truly one of the greatest leaders of all time and a faithful servant of the Lord, yet the people provoked Moses at the waters of Meribah. The Israelites were without water and rebelled against Moses, complaining and criticizing him for their difficulties. God told Moses to speak to the rock and water would be given for the people. In his frustration and anger, Moses smote the rock instead of speaking to it, as God had instructed him. God then told Moses he would not be able to bring the Israelites into Canaan.
Our text begins with Moses rehearsing how he pled with God to allow him to enter the Promised Land: “I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon.” Imagine how much Moses wanted to see this mission completed and the Israelites occupy their inheritance. He had led them out of their Egyptian bondage, and spent forty years with them in the wilderness. But God’s judgment was sure. Moses recorded, “the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the LORD said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter.”
The Lord told Moses to drop the issue, and “speak no more unto me of this matter.” This should alert us all that there are times to appeal and there are times to “drop it.” This is true in our prayers to God, as well as our petitions to others. We must be willing to accept God’s decisions, as well as the judgments of those God places in our lives to lead us. Parents can become frustrated by children who do not take “no” for an answer and continually ask for that which has already been denied. However, adults can be just as determined, even with God.
We need to be sensitive to the Lord and submissive as well. Sometimes He may not allow us to go somewhere or do something that we wish to do. However we have to be willing to accept His will. There may be times when we continue to complain and plead with God when it would be better to SPEAK NO MORE OF THIS MATTER.