Numbers chapter 20.
It's interesting and caught me off-guard how it mentions very quickly and very briefly that Miriam died and was buried. No words about her life. Nothing about the people mourning her death. The two things that stuck out to me about Miriam was her act of Faith when God was delivering them out of Egypt and her rebellion against Moses after being delivered from Egypt. When I die, I hope my life will be an inspiration for the Lord. I Hope much can be said about my life in Christ. Not just something about my life but my life in Christ. And I somehow had an influence on people that they were pointed to Christ. I don't want my life to be unfulfilling or void of God. I don't want people to say I started strong and finished poorly.
I admired how Aaron and Moses went to God immediately after the people of Israel quarreled with them over the fact that they had no water. In fact they went before God broken and in humility because it says they bowed down before God. They were seeking his guidance. Perhaps, we all need to do that more often. It's easy when we face a problem to just try and take care of it ourselves. This is a reminder to me of how God wants us to take all our requests to him so he can be our help and guide. The problem with Moses and Aaron was God told them how to handle the problem and they disobeyed God's answer.
God told Moses and Aaron to speak to the Rock and water would pour out. Instead they struck the rock twice with a staff. They were disobedient to God. Why is it, at times, we don't listen to God or we lack Faith. Or we feel we have to help God. Or even take over. I remember God speaking strongly in my heart to give a man, who had no coat, my coat. Instead of giving it to him out of obedience to God, I merely asked the man if he wanted my coat (that I loved). He said no, so I kept it. Why? Why was that coat so important to me I couldn't give it up? Why was I disobedient?
God I pray that:
- You would help my life to count for something for you.
- You would help me to take everything before you in prayer so that your Holy Spirit can guide me in the manner that you would want me to go. And
- Help me to be obedient to the moving of your Spirit.
In Jesus's name amen.
The Israelites had come full circle back to the place where they originally sent out the 12 spies to the Promised Land and then began their wandering in the wilderness – we know 40 years have passed as Numbers 33:38 tells us that Aaron died 40 years after the exodus from Egypt. The camp had nearly transitioned to the next generation.
Not only did Moses disobey God by striking the rock 2 times, he also was taking credit for God’s miracle when he spoke “shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?” And, he spoke in anger – which was not God’s intent. It may seem like the consequences of his sin were high – he didn’t get to lead the people into the Promised Land. Because Moses was a leader and a model to the people, he was held to a higher standard. (The same is true today.) But our God is so merciful and gracious that He sneaks him into the Promised Land 1500 years later – remember the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:3).
The descendants from two brothers, the Israelites from Jacob and the Edomites from Esau, meet again. It’s not a happy reunion. If you want to know how evil the Edomites were, read the book of Obadiah. God was justified in saying “Jacob I have loved and Esau have I hated” (Romans 9:13).
When the Lord takes Aaron home, his work continues with his son, Eleazor, as high priest. Aren’t we blessed that our High Priest, Jesus, never changes (Hebrews 13:8). He doesn’t change from generation to generation. The same Lord who blesses us will be the same to our children and grandchildren. That truth puts a smile on my face and joy in my heart. Thank you, Jesus!
What you both pointed out about Moses, I didn’t even realize! Mainly, I was focusing on the Israelites complaining, AGAIN, after they know the consequences of that, and how God delivered them from Egypt, and I was thinking- seriously guys?!
I did not even realize Moses disobeyed God by hitting the rock and not giving God the credit for it producing water. Moses, who has been God’s faithful and humble servant, was not so humble or obedient… today in mass our first reading was from Galatians 5:13-18
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
It seems like for a moment, due to the Israelites constantly questioning Moses and God, blaming them, complaining and grumbling, that Moses gave in to the desires of his flesh. He was so fed up with the Israelites because their attitudes he stopped being led by the Spirit. In these heated moments they probably had feelings of wanting to “bite and devour” and destroy one another.
Moses allowed his flesh to win over his spirit. He had an “I told you so, let ME prove you all wrong”. How often do we have those moments? Where we argue with others and if we have the positive outcome or we are “right” in the argument, do we take the credit, boast our knowledge and ability, and truly forgot what it is ALL about. Loving thy neighbor as thyself. Leading all of God’s children into His Kingdom. Sharing HIS Word and His truth and giving HIM the credit.
My prayer for all of us is that we continue to fight the desires of our flesh, knowing they are not that of the spirit and knowing it will be a hard fought battle each and every day.
There is so much packed into chapter 20. Moses and Aaron received God’s directions, but they didn’t follow them like they should. Edom refused to let the Israelites pass through the land. Aaron was stripped of his garments and they are placed on his son, Eleazor who is taking his place as high priest. Miriam and Aaron also both passed away in this chapter. A personal note on Miriam: years ago, my wife and I were considering Miriam as a name to give our daughter until we realized the meaning of that name was sea of bitterness. We decided to choose a different name instead which means advisor or counselor.
The Israelites have gone full circle of wandering in the desert for 40 years and they’re not seeming to be much different than how they were when they started. Here they are back at the Wilderness of Zin and they’re complaining to Moses once again. I haven’t seen the movie Groundhog Day, but I’ve heard a bit about how it’s like a repeat of the same day over and over. That’s what it feels like here. It’s almost like a repeat of some of what was happening back in chapter 14 and now it’s soon going to be the next generation who will enter the Promise Land as the older ones are almost all gone at this point.
I can understand how Moses would be feeling frustrated with these people after leading them for the past 40 years and they are still complaining! Haven’t they learned anything or grown in any positive way? This isn’t an excuse for Moses to not listen closely to God’s current instructions, but it appears that he is just expecting God to take care of the situation as usual and he gives the impression by his words that he somehow deserves credit for at least partially being their provider which only God is able to be. Moses has seen God bring water from a rock before, but he misses the fact that God wants him to do things different this time by speaking to the rock instead of striking it. God doesn’t always do things the same way in every situation. We need to be careful to listen closely to Him and follow His directions even when facing what might seem like the same or similar circumstances. We get into trouble when we lean on our own understanding instead of fully trusting Him for what is needed now.