And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them – Numbers 20:12
A problem is like a small bump—a single annoying event that gets your attention—and you make a mental note to include it in your prayers. However, its persistence, like an itch, incites the need to do something, which is the scratch. So you start poking at it, pursuing its resolution, certain you have the remedy. But soon thereafter, you discover it is no longer a small bump; it is now a bothersome rash. Ultimately, you regret not taking it to God first, which is what you should have done.
Moses is a perfect example of someone who handled a problem the wrong way. Despite being on the cusp of fulfilling his dream of entering the promised land, Moses allowed his focus to be distracted by the Israelites’ complaints. Ultimately, his urgent need to remedy his discomfort cost Moses the realization of his dreams because he ignored the real ointment: being obedient to God.
It’s not if we will ever encounter an itch—the metaphorical type—it’s how wisely we will deal with it. History has proven that scratching will oftentimes result in even greater discomfort.