Have you ever made a decision that you regretted almost immediately after you had done it? In 2002 I purchased a new red Ford Ranger (I wanted black), it had two doors (I wanted four), it had a single cd player (I wanted a combination cassette/cd player), and it had clear back door windows (I wanted tinted ones).

In the interim I had transportation to independently attend classes without inconveniencing my wife, but that was the only caveat. It was more than I could afford at the time and the feeling that I desired for a new vehicle was not there.

One evening as I was sitting on the ramp to the road that I had to get onto, I was hit from behind and pushed into a 22-wheel dump truck. The truck I did not like was totaled. It had less than 3,000 miles on it, and my wife had never ridden in it. No one was injured.

It was a blessing in disguise. Luckily, I had gap insurance that paid it off. I could have been saddled with the rest of the $22,000. Two weeks later I was blessed to find a three-year-old Black Ranger with 40,000 miles, all of the amenities that I wanted, and it was only $7,000 dollars. I was given an extra $400 to replace the missing tailgate.  

Moses made a reckless decision that cost him greatly. His poor choice, however, involved a lack of water. The Israelites were without water in the Desert of Zen, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses” (Numbers 20:2).

God told Moses to speak to a rock and it would “pour out its water” (v8) Instead he “struck the rock twice” (v11). God said, “Because you did not trust in me…, you will not [enter the promised land]: (v12).  

When we make reckless decisions, we pay the price. “Desire without knowledge is not good—how many more will hasty feet miss the way!” (Proverbs 19.2).