20:1-13

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Nu 20:1-22:1

FROM KADESH TO THE PLAINS OF MOAB

Moses’ sin at Meribah

(Nu 20:1-13)

Kadesh-barnea, or Kadesh, on the northern edge of the wilderness of Paran, appears to have been the Israelites’ centre during their years of wandering in the wilderness. On one occasion just after the people returned to Kadesh, Miriam died (Nu 20:1).

Again there was a shortage of water and again the people complained. (See Exodus 17:1-7 for a similar story.) When Moses and Aaron told God of the people’s complaint, God told Moses to speak to the rocky hill beside which they were camped, and water would flow out (Nu 20:2-9).

Moses was angry with the people for their rebellious spirit. Instead of humbly doing as God told him and showing them that God was providing for them, Moses disobeyed God’s command and misrepresented him before the people. Instead of accepting God’s directions in faith and speaking to the rock, Moses acted according to his own feelings.

In anger he struck the rock, called the people rebels, and rebuked them for their constant demands on him as their leader. In so doing, he disobeyed God, spoke rashly to the people, and took personal credit for the miracle instead of giving honour to God.

God’s punishment was to prevent Moses (and Aaron who had supported him) from entering the promised land (Nu 20:10-13; cf. Nu 20:24; 27:12-14; Deut 3:26-27; Ps 106:32-33).