Below are some preliminary questions to assist in the study of this passage. For a comprehensive study of the passage, download the Study Guide (PDF download).
1. What adversity do the people of Israel encounter in the wilderness of Zin and what do they do? See Numbers 20:1-5 (printed below)
In the first month the children of Israel, the whole congregation, arrived at the wilderness of Zin, and they camped at Kadesh. Miriam died there and was buried there. (2) Now there was no water for the congregation, so they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. (3) The people contended with Moses and said, We wish that we had died when our brothers died before Jehovah! (4) Why have you brought the assembly of Jehovah into this wilderness? Have you done so in order that we should die here, both we and our livestock? (5) Why did you force us to come up out of Egypt, only to bring us into this terrible place? This is not a land that produces grain, or figs, or grapevines, or pomegranates. There is not even any water to drink! (Numbers 20:1-5)
We read that when the people of Israel arrived in the wilderness of Zin “there was no water for the congregation.” Once again, when the people encounter adversity, they bring their complaint to Moses and lay the blame on him (verse 2). To be sure, it was a serious situation: they were in a barren wilderness and were without water; but how many times had they not been in similar situations and found the Lord faithful to supply their need? But rather than recall God’s many acts of past faithfulness, and confidently turn to Him for help, the people turn on Moses. They contended with Moses (verse 3), blaming him for their plight: “Why have you brought the assembly of Jehovah into this wilderness?” and accusing him of incompetence or even maliciousness: “Have you done so in order that we should die here, both we and our livestock?” (verse 4)
2. What does the Lord tell Moses to do? See Numbers 20:7-8 (printed below)
Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, (8) Take the staff and assemble the congregation, you and your brother Aaron. Speak to the rock before their eyes, so that it may yield its water. You shall bring water out of the rock for them; so shall you provide water for the congregation and their livestock to drink. (Numbers 20:7-8)
In answer to Moses’ prayer for help and guidance, the Lord instructs him to assemble the people before a designated rock and to speak to the rock, commanding it to yield water for the people (verses 7-8). Note that the Lord on this occasion does not address the rebelliousness of the people; rather, He chose this occasion as a time to display and exalt His covenant faithfulness to an undeserving people—and He intended to do so through His servant Moses.
3. What does Moses do when the people are assembled at the designated rock? See Numbers 20:9-11 (printed below)
So Moses took the staff from Jehovah’s presence, as Jehovah commanded him. (10) Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, Now listen, you rebels! Shall we bring forth water for you from this rock? (11) Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the congregation and their livestock drank. (Numbers 20:9-11)
When Moses and Aaron assemble the people before the designated rock, Moses fails to carry out the Lord’s instructions. He harangues the people for their sin and in anger he strikes the rock, not once, but twice (verses 10-11). Moses sought the Lord’s counsel (verse 6), he received the Lord’s instructions (verses 7-8), but he did not follow through: he allowed himself to be controlled by his own emotions rather than by Christ’s revealed will–and he wound up having to pay a very severe penalty.
4. Can you sympathize with Moses for his behavior?
Verse 1 notes that this incident occurred “in the first month” (of the fortieth year); in other words, Moses had put up with this kind of treatment for a very long time. Being bitterly provoked, unjustly provoked, provoked by these obnoxious people for forty years, Moses reacts with a fit of rage: “Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, ‘Now listen, you rebels! Shall we bring forth water for you from this rock?’ Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the congregation and their livestock drank.” (verses 10-11) We can understand why Moses reacted in the manner in which he did. But, nevertheless, it was an act of disobedience, failing to carry out God’s instructions.
5. How does the Lord respond to Moses’ act of disobedience and why? See Numbers 20:12 (printed below)
But Jehovah said to Moses and Aaron, Because you did not trust in me, in order to honor me in the sight of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them. (Numbers 20:12)
The Lord declares that because of his act of disobedience Moses will not be permitted to lead the people of Israel into the Promised Land. Note carefully the reason the Lord gives for pronouncing against Moses and Aaron this severe penalty: “Because you did not trust in me, in order to honor me in the sight of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them” (verse 12). Literally, “Because you did not trust in me, in order to sanctify me in the sight of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” Moses, as the servant of God, was expected to remain faithful to the Lord and thereby reverence and honor the Lord. Moses, as the representative of God, was supposed to reflect God’s character (in this present case the divine attribute of long-suffering patience), and thereby reverence the Lord and bring honor to His Name. But rather than allowing the glory of the Lord to shine through him (by being a model of the divine dignity, gentleness, and patience in the midst of a provoking situation), Moses allowed himself to become just like the people who were gathered against him. They were guilty of making a sinful response to the situation in which they found themselves, and Moses became guilty of doing the same. Compare the accusation Moses brings against the people: “Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, ‘Now listen, you rebels! Shall we bring forth water for you from this rock?’” (Numbers 20:10) with the accusation the Lord brings against Moses: “the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Both of you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin…failing to sanctify me at the waters before their eyes.’” (Numbers 27:14).
