Numbers 20

Verses 1-5

1. “Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.
2. And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
3. And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!
4. And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?
5. And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.”

The desert of Zin (sometimes spelling as ‘Sin’ or ‘Tsin’), close to the land of the Edomites, south of Canaan. The people moved around for decades until they came to this place, at the start of their fortieth year of wandering. Nothing is recorded in Numbers of the intervening years, when they had to endure God’s punishment for disbelieving Him and committing gross sin. After forty years the Hebrew population increased exponentially. Miriam (sister of Moses and Aaron. Also known as Mary) died in Zin and was buried at Kadesh. Whilst there, the people needed vast amounts of water, but it sems it had either run out, or it was in very short supply for several million people and animals. So, once more, the people complained to Moses and Aaron. It is typical of us to complain first, rather than go to God for answers. Many Christians go down such a blind alley.

Probably through their elders, the people ‘chode’ with Moses – argued angrily. They foolishly said it would have been better if they had died with all those people who were punished with death for their disobedience! They asked why Moses had brought them to such a wilderness only for them, and their animals, to die. They had obviously not remembered that they were there because of their intransigence and stiff necks. They further complained that the desert sand would not allow them to plant seeds for crops, especially with a lack of water. In this tedious attitude we see a people suffering because of their own sins; they appeared to believe God and yet wanted their own way, forgetting the immense miracle of the Red Sea. Logically, God would not let them die from lack of water, but they were intent on being angry. Christians often become just as rebellious, forgetting past gifts and wondrous events, perhaps in their own lives, preferring their own silly emotions to the reality of believing God.

Verses 6-8

6. “And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them.
7. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
8. Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.”

Moses and Aaron did the only thing they could do – they left the angry crowds and went into the grounds of the Tabernacle to seek God’s answer. They lay prostrate on the ground facing the Tabernacle. It was then that God appeared to them in His glory, whatever that actually means. Though we cannot adequately describe it, we do know that God was present with the two men. God spoke to Moses in particular – he was to take his walking stick (rod) and call the people to listen to him and Aaron. Moses would come across a large rock nearby. He was to speak loudly so everyone could hear him, and he was to tell the rock to produce water. The water would flow, to the astonishment of the people, and be sufficient for both people and animals. It was an exact command by God to Moses but, Moses made a big error. In everything, God gave exact statements to be obeyed. No human words were to be inserted! The same is for us today, yet we roam the human wilderness trying to find answers, rather than wait to listen to Him… often, his silence means “Wait!!”

Verses 9-13

9. “And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.
10. 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?
11. 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.
12. And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
13. This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.”

Note the precise words used by God to Moses. Time and again, we find God angry with those who do not follow His commands word for word, but attempt to find their own answers. Moses, valiant and faithful, nevertheless committed a big error. Read God’s words again concerning the miracle! So, why did Moses do what he did?

He gathered people around him and asked if they wanted him to bring water from an inanimate rock. For an inexplicable reason, Moses did not just command water to flow from the rock, but he added an extra piece of theatre by hitting the rock with his rod. The water flowed abundantly. BUT - why did Moses overreach God’s words? In these old testament books we find God giving commands and requirements using explicit and precise words. Warnings are given not to go beyond what was said. Yet, of all people, Moses added to God’s word – and the Lord was not pleased.

Rather than strike Moses and Aaron down, God showed His anger by saying neither man would enter Canaan with the Hebrews, because they had done more than was demanded. God then named the place Meribah (‘strife’ or ‘contention’), because the people rose up against Him, though they were sanctified in Him. Nothing is said about Moses’ and Aaron’s response to such devastating news. After all this time they would not see Canaan. It is worthy to think of our own lack of trust and our own ignorance, of how precise God’s commands are. If He tells us to ‘go there’ then we go there, exactly ‘there’, and not turn in a different direction because we ‘think’ maybe we should.

Verses 14-17

14. “And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us:
15.  How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers:
16. And when we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border:
17. Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king’s high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders.”

Because they needed to reach their destination by a short route, Moses sent messengers to the king of Edom. He reminded him of the troubles the Hebrews had suffered. The exploits of Israel (Jacob) were common knowledge throughout the Middle East, as was the 40 years of wandering in desert places. Moses was hoping that the Edomites would be gracious because of their family ties to Jabob (and hence all the Hebrews). He said the Hebrews were now camped just outside the Edomite border. Would they, as brethren, allow them free passage to the other side? (The alternative being the vast dry desert north of Arabia). All they wanted was to pass through, not taking anything belonging to the Edomites – food, water, etc. They could simply form a narrow band and get through quickly on a trade route, bothering no-one.

Verses 18-22

18. “And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword.
19. And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing any thing else, go through on my feet.
20. And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.
21. Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.
22. And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor.”

But, the king denied them passage. If the Hebrews attempted to pass through, the Edomites would attack them. Moses replied that if they just used the ‘high way’ (probably the route used by merchants) then they would pay for any water used by the animals and people. The king again refused them free passage and sent out a big contingency of armed Edomites as a show of force. Thus, the Hebrews turned away from the road until they came to Mount Hor on the Edomite border.

Verses 23-29

23. “And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying,
24. Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah.
25. Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor:
26. And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there.
27. And Moses did as the LORD commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.
28. And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount.
29. And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.”

The account then turns back to God’s displeasure with Aaron and Moses. He said that this was as far as Aaron would go, because of his error when Moses commanded the rock to produce water. From this we may assume that though Moses struck the rock, Aaron was probably complicit. Even today, many congregations of believers allow error in their pastors and preachers, or amongst themselves. In this way the whole of God’s people suffer privation and spiritual woes. (Note: the ‘coast’ of Edom refers to its border, not a sea-coast). Moses was to accompany Aaron and his son Eleazar up mount Hor. It was to be Aaron’s final days.

At the top, Aaron was to have his high priestly clothing removed and given to Eleazar to wear. Eleazar became the high priest and Aaron quickly died*. Aaron was buried and Moses and Eleazar descended the mountain. The whole people mourned for Aaron, for 30 days. The taking of Canaan was now very close.

(* Note that God brought Aaron’s life to an end, quickly and no doubt without suffering. The Lord can easily remove the ‘breath of life’ – also called the soul – even from healthy individuals, if it is His will. Though loved by God, the lives of both Moses and Aaron were instantly brought to an end as a penalty.

When God acted this way with Moses and Aaron, and when He commits a similar action against ANY Christian, it does NOT mean He no longer loves us. When He gives exact commands to us and we add or remove parts, or change them, He MUST respond with His perfectly legal and just anger. This does not negate His love for all who belong to Him).

© October 2024

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