Observations and Interpretations
At the end of this chapter, Aaron died v.22-29 because both Aaron and Moses rebelled again God. Both of them would not enter the Promised Land.
(1) When did this happened v.1? (NET) The text does not indicate here what year this was, but from comparing the other passages about the itinerary, this is probably the end of the wanderings, the fortieth year, for Aaron died some forty years after the exodus. So in that year the people come through the wilderness of Zin and prepare for a journey through the Moabite plains.
(3) The reason behind his action
A. In v.1, Moses' sister, Miriam died, and Moses might be sad during this time.
B. After 40 years of witnessing the grace of God, Isrealites still disbelieved God and complained of no water. They called the rebel who died during the 10 spies event, "our brothers" v.3.
(2) What had happened?
v.7-8 All God wants them to do is to take the staff, assemble the community, speak to the rock and the rock will pour forth its water, so Moses will give the community water to drink. However, v.9-11 Moses took the staff, gathered the people, but instead of speaking to the rock he started to pour out his complaint/bitterness to the people. At last he struck the rock twice. Amazingly, the water still came out.
“Listen, you rebels, must we bring water out of this rock for you?”v.10
He called them, "rebels," Even though they were rebels, they should not be the audience of his complaint. In the past, ch 11, Moses spoke to God about the people when he had problems, not man.
He called them, "rebels," Even though they were rebels, they should not be the audience of his complaint. In the past, ch 11, Moses spoke to God about the people when he had problems, not man.
"Must we..." (BKC) The Lord told Moses only to speak to the rock for its flow must not be attributed to his own efforts but to the Lord’s miraculous provision. Moses, however, at the breaking point of his endurance and patience (he called the people rebels), drew attention to his own authority as covenant mediator by striking the rock twice with his staff. The water came because of God’s beneficent grace
v.12? Moses did not trust God enough to show Him as holy
(NET) “believe, trust” = the faith in the Word of the LORD that leads to an appropriate action. Here God says that Moses did not believe him, meaning that what he did showed more of Moses than of what God said. Moses had taken a hostile stance toward the people, and then hit the rock twice. This showed that Moses was not satisfied with what God said, but made it more forceful and terrifying, thus giving the wrong picture of God to the people. By doing this the full power and might of the LORD was not displayed to the people. It was a momentary lack of faith, but it had to be dealt with.
"holy" (NET) He was supposed to have acted in a way that would have shown God to be distinct, different, holy. Instead, he gave the impression that God was capricious and hostile—very human. The leader has to be aware of what image he is conveying to the people.
Application: We probably could not avoid situations or people who might make us angry. However, God gave us the opportunity to speak out in front of Him and not the people we are leading. Pray that we learn from Moses and talk to God about our anger.
The rebels and their words were totally wrong and God only asked Moses to give them water. Perhaps that was the part that made Moses dissatisfied and therefore, he called them "rebels." Do we do that sometimes? We felt that evil people deserved more and we were mad at them for God?
When Moses was carrying the staff he should have represented God and what Moses did have a serious consequences of what people might think about God. Moses and Aaron were so close to the Promised land. Yet, they could not enter it. May we remember that and know that it was a serious matter to represent God before others.
Audrey
Comments