Numbers 20:1-13 / A Moment of Rebellion
📖 Scripture
1 In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.
2 Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron.
3 They quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord!
4 Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here?
5 Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!”
6 Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them.
7 The Lord said to Moses,
8 “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly 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 so they and their livestock can drink.”
9 So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him.
10 He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?”
11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.
12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “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.”
13 These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the Lord and where he was proved holy among them.
✅ Scripture Summary
✅ Memory verse
✅ Reflection
A Significant Supporter (20:1)
During the final year of Israel’s wilderness wanderings, Moses’s sister Miriam passes away. While she is only briefly mentioned, the fact that Scripture includes this detail about her death shows that Miriam is significant. Miriam had an important role both nationally as a leader and personally as a sister. She helped save Moses’s life when he was a baby, and she and their brother Aaron were part of Moses’s support team. As Christians, we all need a support team. Brothers and sisters, both biological and spiritual, can help us make decisions and keep us accountable for our actions. May we value those who support and love us well, and may we, in turn, be compassionate and wise supporters for those God places around us.
Who are some of your significant supporters? Praise God for them, and consider how you can bless them this week.
Belief and Behavior (20:2–13)
Because they face a lack of water, the Israelites go to Moses and Aaron to complain. In a previous instance when Israel had no water, Moses had struck a rock, and water came out. However, this time, God commands Moses to speak to a rock. Instead of obeying these instructions, Moses strikes the rock twice. This detail may seem insignificant to some of us, especially since striking the rock works and water gushes out. Yet, Moses disobeys God’s command, displaying his lack of faith. Consequently, Moses loses the privilege of entering into the promised land. Let us not allow our doubts to lead us into disobedience. May we continue to honor and trust God as the rock of our salvation.
In what areas do you struggle to trust God? Confess to Him how you feel, and ask Him to remind You of His trustworthiness.
“Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee; let the water and the blood, from Thy wounded side which flowed, be of sin the double cure; save from wrath and make me pure.”
– Augustus Toplady
✅ Prayer
✅ Essay
Remember and Trust
Two men are on an airplane. A person they both trust gives each of them a parachute and tells them that they will absolutely need it. They put the parachute on, and the plane takes off. During the flight, the first man grows frustrated with the physical discomfort of the parachute and with the stares he is getting from the other passengers. He begins to doubt the reliability of what was promised to him, and he takes it off. The second man also shares the same physical and mental discomfort, but it does not compare to the thought of not having the parachute the moment he needs it. So, he keeps the parachute on. This illustration was adjusted and repurposed from Ray Comfort’s book God Has a Wonderful Plan for Your Life. The men’s feelings and actions are different based on what they remember and trust. Influenced by his thoughts and trials, the first man forgets why he trusted the provider in the first place. The second man, by continuing to remember and trust, keeps his parachute on and anticipates what was promised. Like the second man, let us not forget God’s past faithfulness toward us lest we also forget His future promises. Let us hold fast to Jesus Christ, who died for our sins so that we could enter into a relationship with Him. May we not dwell on doubts but wholeheartedly cling to Jesus who saved us. Even in discomfort, may we wait patiently for God to fulfill His guaranteed promises.
Written by John Pai