Thinking About Moses in Numbers 20

When a chapter begins with a death, you get an inkling that you may get additional bad news in that story.

The twentieth chapter of Numbers begins with the death of Miriam, Moses’ and Aaron’s sister, and it goes downhill from there.

The children of Israel are well into the wilderness of Zin at this point. The forty years of wandering has begun, the result of their unbelief and rebellion against Caleb’s and Joshua’s report from their journey into the Promised Land. Once again, they find themselves without water.

This isn’t the first time they have been without water. When they left Egypt, they were without water in Rephidim (Exodus 17). In that incident, God told Moses to strike the rock in Horeb, and water would come out of it. Moses obeyed, and God provided water.

Throughout their journey from Egypt, every need has been met, yet they still walk in fear and discontent anytime they suspect a lack. The pattern continues in chapter twenty. The people accost Moses with their need and blame him for bringing them out of Egypt. Moses and Aaron take the need to God, and God gives Moses a specific instruction.

This time, Moses is to take Aaron’s rod, gather the congregation together with Aaron, and speak to the rock, and it will give water.

Moses heard God’s instruction, but he placed his own interpretation on it. This is what he did:

“And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as he commanded him. And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also” (Numbers 20:9 – 11, KJV).

Moses took what God had told him to do and took the authority and glory for providing the water for the Israelites. That glory belonged to God.

I can understand his frustration. The people had stepped on his last nerve, but he allowed his humanness and his irritation to interfere with his obedience to God, and there were consequences. This presumptive action on Moses’ part kept him from going into the Promised Land at the end of the wilderness journey (Numbers 20:12).

The people continued their journey, but the sad news is not over. At the end of chapter twenty, Aaron’s priesthood is given to Eleazar, his son, and Aaron dies. Now, Moses is left without brother or sister as he continues to lead the stubborn people that God has given him charge over.

As I read through this haunting chapter, there are truths for me today.

• Complaining against those in leadership is not an act of faith. God is my provider.

• Trust in God’s provision, even when I cannot see the way before me.

• Obey what God says – specifically.

• Be careful of letting my personal frustrations sway me from following God’s directions.

• Don’t take God’s glory for myself. He is the provider. I am not.

Father, it is easy to get wrapped up in my own importance, to let frustrations and irritations take over when I am dealing with situations in this world. Forgive me. I represent You, not myself. I am here for Your glory, not my own. You alone are the Water of Life. If Moses could be swayed, You know I can, so Holy Spirit, guard my heart and my lips. I’m trusting You. In Jesus’ name I pray.

“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14, KJV).