Numbers
chapter 20 is a chapter of transition and most notably includes the
act of disobedience that prevents Moses from leading the nation of
Israel into the Promised Land. The chapter begins, “The
Whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin and they
stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.”
Miriam was Moses sister, of course. Remember Kadesh was the very
place where the nation refused to obey God and enter the land. God
kept His word that the entire generation would pass away in the
wilderness and Miriam is a symbol that no matter how important we
might think we are, we are all subject to God’s Word. Many of us at
one time thought we were the exception. We might have thought, “If
I do more good than bad, I’m OK with God”. But God’s standard
is PERFECTION! Anyone falling short of that mark cannot enter into
His eternal promised land. We are told, “There
are none righteous, no not one”
(Romans 3:10), and therefore God provided a substitute for our sins
to provide complete forgiveness so we might inherit life.
Next
we read “There
was no water for the community, so the people gathered in opposition
to Moses and Aaron.”
The people ask, “Why
did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place?”
but they conveniently forget it was their own disobedience that
brought them there. Moses and Aaron go before the Lord and God
instructs Moses, “Take
the staff… and gather the people together. Speak to that rock
before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring
water out of the rock for the community and they and their livestock
will drink.”
Sadly, Moses does not do what God commanded, instead Moses said to
them, “Listen,
you rebels, must we bring water from this rock? Then Moses raised
his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff.”
Not only does Moses show anger in his representation of God, but
also God clearly commanded him to SPEAK to the rock. Remember in
Exodus 17:6 God told Moses to strike the rock and water would pour
out, but this second time he needed only to speak to the rock.
Because our God is compassionate, He provides the water His people
need in abundance, but Moses suffers the consequences of his
disobedience. God said to Moses, “Because
you did not trust Me enough to honor Me as holy into the sight of the
Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give
them.“
Some
might think this is a very tough penalty for missing ONE WORD, but
Moses completely blew the symbol of salvation represented by the
rock. 1 Corinthians 10:4 makes it clear that the rock represents
Jesus Christ. In John 7:37 Jesus Himself declares, “If
anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in
Me, as the scripture has said, streams of living waters will flow
from within him.”
Jesus was struck once for all who have fallen short of perfection.
He willingly went to the cross as a sacrifice in our place. And now
to receive that forgiveness, all we need to do is call out to the
Rock. “If
you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and believe in
your heart God raised Him from the dead, then you will be saved.”
(Romans 10:9). Even before the Israelites entered the Promised Land,
God was preparing them for Christ. Are you in a desert place in your
life? Do you need to be restored? Maybe you are representing God to
those around you. Do people see your God as angry or anxious to
forgive? “For
you are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call
upon You.”
(Psalm 86:5).