Death and failure

As this chapter begins it has been 37 years since Israel’s first spy mission into the promised land and 40 years since the Exodus from Egypt. While the people dwelt at Kadesh waiting for instructions to march, Miriam the prophetess died and was buried there (v. 1). The people were again without water and they murmured against Moses and Aaron. This was certainly a test of Moses’ and Aaron’s patience. Difficulties either bring out the best in people or the worst; they either mature us or make us more childish. Israel’s words and attitudes clearly revealed that there hearts were still in Egypt. What a picture of the professing Christian who still loves the world (1 John 2:15-17) and turns to the world for help whenever there’s a problem.

Provoked in his spirit, Moses addressed the people unkindly by saying, “Hear now ye rebels” (v. 10). Then, instead of speaking to the rock as God had commanded, Moses struck it twice. It was a sad demonstration of hostility by the meekest man on earth (12:3). Moses was human just as we are, and was no doubt weary as he came near to the end of the wilderness journey where he had seen nothing but unbelief and heard nothing but complaining. Regardless of the circumstance the fact still remains that Moses didn’t honor the Lord or obey His orders. The remarkable thing is that God provided the water even though Moses’ attitude and actions were all wrong.