Numbers 20 - Assembled Themselves
In Tuesday’s Bible Reading (Numbers 20) the people again “assembled themselves against Moses” (v. 2) and “the people quarreled with Moses” (v. 3). In the midst of a difficult situation Israel felt the only way forward was to go back. Again the people rise up against Moses and Aaron presumably to elect new leaders to take them back to Egypt (see Numbers 14:4). It is clear that Israel has placed blame on their situation and the blame is zeroed in on Moses and Aaron.
“Why have you made us come up out of Egypt…?” (v. 5). I find it interesting that somehow Moses “made” probably upwards of a million people take a journey. That seems highly unlikely even for the most charismatic of leader, but that is how we feel when things don’t work out the way we thought. I never wanted to go, I never wanted to be involved or I knew this was going to happen the whole time. When things don’t work out we have to place the blame on someone else (or do we?).
Israel seems to have forgotten they refused God’s invitation to go into the promise land (see Numbers 13-14), they seemed to have forgotten that Israel after rebelling against God tried to do it on their own (see the end of Numbers 14), and that they have rebelled against God and his leaders at least ten times along the journey (see Numbers 14:22). The people of Israel refuses to see the role they have played to land them back in the desert again [pun intended].
Moses and Aaron are not without their own faults. God tells Moses to “speak” to the rock to bring forth the water (v. 8) but Moses gathers the assembly together and “strikes” the rock (v. 10-11). For this infraction Moses and Aaron are told they will not lead the people into the promise land. This is one of those passages where the punishment doesn’t seem to fit the “crime”. What did Moses do?
Moses offense is multifaceted. First, he simply failed to follow directions. Simple enough – God says speak Moses does something else. Second, it seems Moses lost his temper. This is assumed because Moses strikes the rock and it seems clear Moses is a bit angry, but God’s statement shows that it is deeper than Moses simply losing his cool. God says, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people…” (v. 12). So third, Moses is not approaching God in reverence. If God is doing something it is Holy and this means his community (the church), his people, and his gifts should be treated as Holy. We should treat the things of God with reverence. The Apostle Paul takes it even one step further and tells us the Rock was Christ (or at least a type see 1 Corinthians 10:4) – does that mean Moses struck Jesus? That will have to be for another communication.
Moses offense covers at least two more issues. Fourth, Moses set himself (and Aaron) up as the deliver. Note his words “shall WE bring water for you out of this rock?” ( emphasis added mine v. 10). Finally, (and this is the real heart of the issue) Moses and Aaron took on the role of judge. They said, “you rebels” – the judgement had been made, blame was given and Moses was the rescuer. That is what we do in conflict. Just as a reminder Jesus is the judge and he is the only deliverer.
D.A. Carson said Moses response in striking the rock, “is the answer of a man who under pressure has become bitter and pretentious.” In difficult times through the wilderness the people of God get angry and place blame and leaders become judgmental, bitter and prideful. Jesus reminds us that not only should we not murder someone (isn’t scary that the bible has to state that) but that we also shouldn’t call someone a fool and if we do we are in danger of hell (see Matthew 5:21-22). We are also to view one another as created in God’s image. James says that the tongue cannot be tamed “with it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God” (James 3:9). In other words leaders and the people need to speak well to and of each other.
In the midst of the wilderness we are in due to Covid and church transition it is a good reminder that the work we are involved in is HOLY and we must treat the church and the people of God with reverence. I confess I have struggled with the bitterness D.A. Carson speaks of through this difficult season and for that I ask your forgiveness. As the church moves forward in transition may we choose to move forward (not backward), seek the Lord on our knees, and treat one another as those created in the likeness of God. Ultimately we are all dependent on the Rock (Jesus) that was struck down for our sin and we operate in the power that comes from the Risen Lord. We can get through this not because we are right but we can get through this because we are sinners but Jesus righted our wrongs on the cross.