How long did God use Moses after God told him to speak to the rock

Theology
1

Numbers 20;9-12

How long (years) did God use Moses after God told him to speak to the rock, but Moses struck the rock instead. I know (GOD) still used Moses all the way through the book of Deuteronomy.

Anyone knows how long? Thanks

Here’s something I want Christians to remember: When Moses died. Nothing of God dies. When your mentor dies, nothing of God dies. When your spouse dies, nothing of God dies. When, your pastor dies, nothing of God dies, When, that individual who was a mentor to you and faithfully served Christ by assisting you and your growth dies, nothing of God dies. You are to go on carry on what they have taught you. God still used Moses all the way through the book of Deuteronomy.

2

This is an interesting question, because the biblical timeline isn’t always expressed in exact year counts for every event — but based on the sequence of Numbers → Deuteronomy → Joshua, most scholars place the “speak-to-the-rock” moment in the final stretch of the wilderness period.

Most conservative chronologies put that incident near the end of the 40 years, not at the beginning. So from that point forward until Moses’ death, it likely wasn’t decades. More like the tail end of the journey, the closing movement before entering Canaan.

And I appreciate the reminder you included. The story is always bigger than the individual, and God’s work is never dependent on one person remaining in the scene. That theme shows up again and again throughout Scripture.

3

Moses struck the rock in Numbers 20, during the 40th year of Israel’s wilderness wandering. This happened not long before the Israelites entered the Promised Land. Moses died later that same year, shortly after delivering the sermons recorded in Deuteronomy.

So, while God still used Moses after that moment, I believe it was likely less than a full year between the rock incident and Moses’ death.

And, your reminder is exactly right. Though leaders may fail or pass away, God’s purposes continue. As it says in Joshua 1:2, “Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise…” God’s work moves forward, and so must we.