This chapter starts with the death of Moses’ sister Miriam and ends with the death of his brother Aaron. Both of these events are personal tragedies for Moses but they are not at all the worst things to happen for him in this chapter. Both Miriam and Aaron were honored and both died well with the Lord. Death is by no means always a terrible thing. No, the really terrible thing that happened to Moses involved a great miracle he performed.
After almost forty years of wandering in the wilderness Israel was now very close to their destination. As is often the case it as at this point in the journey where discouragement set in. They began to complain bitterly about their lot and especially about the lack of drinking water.
Moses and Aaron took this to the Lord and the Lord gave them simple clear instructions designed to solve the problem. Take the staff from the Lord’s presence. Gather the people. Speak to the rock. Water will come forth for all to drink.
Sometimes three out of four isn’t bad, but this was not one of those times. Moses took the staff. Moses gathered the people. Moses struck the rock. Moses struck the rock. Water came forth for all to drink.The Lord was displeased with Moses and Aaron because they had not treated Him as holy in front of the people. In fact, because of this both Moses and Aaron were not allowed to lead the people into Canaan.
Some explanation is in order. This is not the first time Moses brought water from the rock for the people. In Exodus 17 a similar situation happened near the start of Israel’s journey. On that occasion the Lord told Moses to strike the rock and water would come forth. He did and it did. Now, near the end of the journey we see the same rock again. (While it is unlikely that it was literally the same there can be no doubt that poetically it was certainly the same.)
One more thing about this rock; 1 Corinthians 10:4 tells us that this Rock was Christ. Of course it wasn’t literally the person of Jesus Christ but it was clearly a type of Christ who invites all to come and drink freely from the life giving water that He alone can give. This rock shows up twice, just as Christ has come once and will come again. The first time the rock is to be struck. Likewise, at His first coming Christ was struck and nailed to a tree. The second time the rock was not to be struck because on His second coming the Christ will come to rule and reign, not to be struck. It is a beautiful and clear picture, or was until Moses disobeyed.
My father was an ordained pastor for over fifty years. He was a good man thought he was actually quite patient he would occasionally give voice to a bit of rashness. He was occasionally known to say, “I just want to pinch their little heads off.” Therefore, I can totally understand Moses having a “pinch their little heads off” moment as he yelled at these “rebels”. Ah, but rashness and frustration can often lead to a bit of grandstanding. “Do I have to strike this rock and bring water forth for you?” Whack!
I love the Bible’s marvelous economy of words. “Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff.” Twice, is it? How I would love to see Moses’ face between the first and second strike. (I truly hope their is a highlight reel in heaven.) What did his face register? Fear? Bewilderment? The ultimate “oops”?
Here’s what I love about our God. “Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.” God’s man messed up and a magnificent picture of prophetic truth was marred, but God still provided for the people. As a pastor I realize how often I was so unworthy to stand before God’s people and bring God’s Word; yet, He loves them enough that it is not about me and my worthiness. It is about His Love - the same love that provided water from the rock provides life through the Son.
No comments:
Post a Comment