12 “So we took possession of this land at that time. From Aroer, which is by the [l]valley of Arnon, and half the hill country of Gilead and its cities I gave to the Reubenites and to the Gadites. 13 The rest of Gilead and all Bashan, the kingdom of Og, I gave to the half-tribe of Manasseh, all the region of Argob (concerning all Bashan, it is called the land of Rephaim. 14 Jair the son of Manasseh took all the region of Argob as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and called [m]it, that is, Bashan, after his own name, [n]Havvoth-jair, as it is to this day.)15 To Machir I gave Gilead. 16 To the Reubenites and to the Gadites I gave from Gilead even as far as the [o]valley of Arnon, the middle of the [p]valley [q]as a border and as far as the [r]river Jabbok, the border of the sons of Ammon; 17 the Arabah also, with the Jordan [s]as a border, from [t]Chinnereth even as far as the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, [u]at the foot of the slopes of Pisgah on the east.
18 “Then I commanded you at that time, saying, ‘The Lord your God has given you this land to possess it; all you valiant men shall cross over armed before your brothers, the sons of Israel. 19 But your wives and your little ones and your livestock (I know that you have much livestock) shall remain in your cities which I have given you, 20 until the Lord gives rest to your fellow countrymen as to you, and they also possess the land which the Lord your God will give them beyond the Jordan. Then you may return every man to his possession which I have given you.’ 21 I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, ‘Your eyes have seen all that the Lord your God has done to these two kings; so the Lord shall do to all the kingdoms into which you are about to cross. 22 Do not fear them, for the Lord your God is the one fighting for you.’
23 “I also pleaded with the Lord at that time, saying, 24 ‘O Lord [v]God, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your strong hand; for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as Yours?25 Let me, I pray, cross over and see the fair land that is beyond the Jordan, [w]that good hill country and Lebanon.’ 26 But the Lord was angry with me on your account, and would not listen to me; and the Lord said to me, ‘[x]Enough! Speak to Me no more of this matter. 27 Go up to the top of Pisgah and lift up your eyes to the west and north and south and east, and see it with your eyes, for you shall not cross over this Jordan. 28 But charge Joshua and encourage him and strengthen him, for he shall go across [y]at the head of this people, and he will give them as an inheritance the land which you will see.’ 29 So we remained in the valley opposite Beth-peor.
This last section is interesting, as Moses had already been told he couldn’t enter the promised land, because he had disobeyed God. Twice now, he has made it seem like it was because of the people themselves. While they certainly didn’t help, and drove him to it somewhat, ultimately he made the choice to strike the rock instead of speaking to it as God commanded.
Sometimes we mess up, and we have to face the consequences. While God is more than capable of making life easy for us, that is not usually best for us. God uses trials to turn us into the men and women he has called us to be. Not just pastors, or missionaries, but everyone that is called by His name.