Last
week we saw 12 spies sent to explore Canaan and how they brought back a divided
report. This chapter brings us to the
last year of Israel’s journey. It begins
with the death of Miriam and ends with the death of Aaron. In the middle of the chapter we see the
failure of Moses and Aaron causing God to not allow them to enter the Promise
Land. Years have passed and now there is
a new generation. They are complaining
and grumbling to Moses just like their fathers.
Numbers 20:1 – Miriam’s Death
The
Israelites arrived at the Desert of Zin and stayed in Kadesh. There Moses’
sister Miriam died (Num. 20:1). Only a few words are said of her here. I am sure Moses and Aaron were very sad about
her death. We know some of her history
from our past studies. When Moses was a
baby, she saved him from death (Ex. 2). She led the women to thank God after they escaped
Egypt and crossed the Red Sea (Ex. 15). She helped Moses and Aaron lead the
Israelites on their journey in the desert.
She spoke against Moses, but God forgave her. However, she suffered punishment from God (Num. 12).
Numbers 20:2-13 – Moses’ Sin
Again
the Israelites had no water to drink and cried out to Moses and Aaron. They wished they had died suddenly like the
some of the others had done. They had
not learned anything from their fathers during their 38 years. They still didn’t go to God with their concerns,
but complained to Moses. This was
similar to Ex. 17:1-7 when they
complained about no water and God told Moses to use his staff to strike the
rock and water would come out of the rock.
How are
you influencing your children and what sins are they picking up from you?
Where
do you turn when you need help?
Do you simply
complain or do you turn to God for help?
Again
Moses didn’t argue with the people, but took Aaron and together they prayed to
God. As we would say, “take it to the
Lord” and that’s just what they did.
Do you
take your problems and concerns to the Lord?
This
time God didn’t tell Moses to strike the rock, but to speak to the rock and
water would come out. However, Moses
said to the people, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring
you water out of this rock?” – Num.
20:10. Then Moses struck the rock 2
times and water gushed out. Then God
said, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor
me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community
into the land I give them.” – Num.
20:12.
Do you
take credit for what God has done or do you give Him all the glory?
Do you
trust God in a few things or in all things?
I feel
sorry for Moses. He had waited so long
to enter the Promise Land and now he would not.
He had put up with all the peoples’ complaints and was probably
frustrated with them. His patience
finally broke. His response was only
human. It was still a failure and a
sin. It was unbelief. Moses spoke to the people out of anger
instead of the rock as God commanded. He
didn’t follow God’s instruction and he didn’t glorify God. He said, “Must we bring you water out of this rock?” He wasn’t giving God the credit. He didn’t fully trust God. Moses spoke rashly and thoughtlessly. “By the waters of
Meribah they angered the Lord, and trouble came to Moses because of them; for
they rebelled against the Spirit of God and rash words came from Moses’ lips.”
– Ps. 106:32-33.
Maybe
you think Moses punishment was somewhat harsh, but remember the next generation
was watching. God wanted them to see how
important it was to obey. God didn’t
kill Moses. He took him home.
When has your failure to trust God harmed the faith of others? They are harmed when others see us worry instead of trusting God, when we try to fix things on our own instead of taking it to God, and anytime the choices we make cause those of weaker faith to stumble. Remember, others are watching and as Christians we need to set a good example.
Principle: Trust and glorify God in all things.
Numbers 20:14-21 – Passage Denied
Moses
sent a message from Kadesh to the king of Edom asking him if they could cut
across his country on their way Moab. If
you remember, the people of Edom were descendants of Esau in Gen. 26. The Israelites were descendants of Jacob,
Esau’s brother. In the message Moses
reminded the king they were his relatives and not to consider them as
enemies. If the king would let them pass
through, they would not disturb their fields or take any crops or water. The king refused. Moses asked him again, but he still refused
and sent his large and powerful army to stop them. The Israelites could have fought, because God
and helped them fight their enemies before.
This was not God’s plan so Moses decided to go another way.
Numbers 20:22-29 - Aaron’s Death
The
Israelites then traveled to Mount Hor.
God told Moses, Aaron and Aaron’s son Eleazar to go up on Hor, because
it was time for Aaron to die. God didn’t
kill him. He died of natural causes and
was blessed with a long life. He was 123
years old. Even though Aaron wouldn’t
enter the Promised Land because he and Moses didn’t follow God’s instruction, before
he died God blessed him by letting him see his son be made high priest. The high priest wore special garments. God told Moses to remove these special
garments from Aaron and put them on Eleazar showing he was now the new high
priest. This was an important act and is
in anticipation of the coming of Jesus, our one and only High Priest.
Moses
and Eleazar came down the mountain and the whole community learned of Aaron’s
death and saw that Eleazar was now the new high priest. This was probably an encouragement to the
people that God was still with them and that He was faithful and would not
leave them. They mourned Aaron’s death
for 30 days.
How has
God blessed you throughout your life?
Has God
blessed you when you were disobedient?
Principle: God is faithful and will not leave us.
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