“In the first month of the year, the whole community of Israel arrived in the wilderness of Zin and camped at Kadesh. While they were there, Miriam died and was buried. There was no water for the people to drink at that place, so they rebelled against Moses and Aaron. The people blamed Moses and said, “If only we had died in the Lord’s presence with our brothers! Why have you brought the congregation of the Lord’s people into this wilderness to die, along with all our livestock? Why did you make us leave Egypt and bring us here to this terrible place? This land has no grain, no figs, no grapes, no pomegranates, and no water to drink!” Moses and Aaron turned away from the people and went to the entrance of the Tabernacle, where they fell face down on the ground. Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to them, and the Lord said to Moses, “You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its water. You will provide enough water from the rock to satisfy the whole community and their livestock.” So Moses did as he was told. He took the staff from the place where it was kept before the Lord. Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock. “Listen, you rebels!” he shouted. “Must we bring you water from this rock?” Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!” This place was known as the waters of Meribah (which means “arguing”) because there the people of Israel argued with the Lord, and there he demonstrated his holiness among them.”
Numbers 20:1-13 NLT
The descent at Meribah is a harsh passage. In it, we see the Hebrew people, once again push against God with the same musings on anger and bitterness that they had been carrying since Egypt. This is probably compounded at this point by the fact they were judged as unworthy to enter the promised land. Add to the chaos the fact the Moses was burying his sister and you have a difficult chapter for the new nation. The people needed water and God provided in the form of a rock. This rock would give water when spoken too. Instead Moses in his frustration struck the rock, twice, to access this blessing. In essence, he took out his frustration upon it. This choice, was obviously and understandably born out of frustration. Yet it showed a lack of trust on Moses’ part. God had always been meticulous in the dispensation of his blessings. Moses’ striking if the rock purposefully marred that. Gif wanted to demonstrate grace and mercy. Moses believed the people needed anger and wrath. In this instance, Moses placed himself above God, just as his people had kept doing again and again. This is the sad truth. No matter how much we follow God, we are never better than those who don’t. We are always one bad day away from rebellion.
Moses’s Disobedience: Moses struck the rock twice instead of speaking to it, showing a lack of trust in God’s provision.
Reason for Moses’s Disobedience: Moses’s frustration and anger led him to strike the rock, demonstrating a lack of faith in God’s grace and mercy.
Lesson from the Story: Even the most faithful can be tempted to rebel against God, highlighting the human tendency to doubt and question divine authority.
JOSH McGARY.COM 