SPEAK TO THE ROCK!

Probably a million people had died during the wasted years between Numbers nineteen and twenty. The bitter results of unbelief were realized as an entire generation was buried in the sands of Sinai.

Chapter twenty begins with Israel again camped at Kadesh, the place they had been thirty-nine years before when the twelve spies brought back the report concerning the “land flowing with milk and honey” (Numbers 14:8). Here, at Kadesh, Miriam, Moses’ sister died. The chapter ends with the death of Aaron (Numbers 20:28). “Aaron … died on the first day of the fifth month in the fortieth year after the Israelites went out of the land of Egypt” (Numbers 33:38).

Something else died in Numbers twenty … Moses’ dream of entering the Promised Land.

Life is the desert consisted of a continuing search for water. Two million people and their livestock needed a big watering hole! Often the Israelites belly-ached and grumbled saying, “If only we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord. Why have you brought the Lord’s assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here? Why have you led us up from Egypt to bring us to this evil place?” (Number 20:3-5).

As Moses pleaded on their behalf, God gave him instructions. “Take the staff and assemble the community. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will yield its water. You will bring out water for them from the rock and provide drink for the community and their livestock” (Numbers 20:8). “Speak to the rock.”

But Moses disobeyed.

He didn’t speak to the rock. Rather, “Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff” (Numbers 20:11).

The Great God of Grace produced the water. It came gushing and gurgling, no doubt to the joyful applause of the thirsty people. But the Lord said to Moses, “Because you did not trust me to demonstrate my holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land I have given them” (Numbers 20:12).

There are consequences for sin!

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).