Numbers 20:1–13; Psalm 106:32–33

Bible Studies for Life
Instructor of Church Music and Worship Leadership, School of the Arts, Samford University

Respond to Difficult Situations
Numbers 20:1–13; Psalm 106:32–33
In this four-week study of events in Moses’ life, we are being challenged to deepen our walk with God. This week, we will look at Moses’ response to the Israelites complaints they had no water. Just as Moses and the Israelites became easily frustrated, so do we become frustrated by difficulties in our lives. This study helps us find a way to honestly respond to difficulties we may encounter in life.

Don’t Idolize the Past (Num. 20:1–5)
Numbers 20 is the retelling of a similar story from Exodus 17:1–7. In both stories, the Israelites had a water shortage in the wilderness and complained about it. They gathered themselves against Moses and Aaron (2) and delivered a series of complaints in the form of questions (3–5). Specifically the Israelites compared their current condition to their past condition, what they called “this wretched place” (5). It seems they had forgotten their past days of slavery as well as God’s provisions for them in recent travels. They looked at their days in Egyptian slavery with rose-tinted glasses because they had water there.

The cycle of complaint and rebellion is common throughout the Book of Numbers, and it comes as no surprise in this narrative. However, earlier complaints such as their getting tired of manna were petty (11:4–6). No water in the desert seems to be a legitimate concern that needs attention, yet the manner in which the Israelites presented the concern is unfair. Their concern developed into a complaint and then a gross exaggeration about the actual reality of the past.  

As a result, the Israelites were unable to live in the present and failed to trust God’s provisions in their more recent journeys. How often do we, in our lives, trust so much in the past that we fail to trust God in the present? This is certainly the choice the Israelites made, and it made their situation appear worse than it actually was.

Don’t Lose Your Temper (Num. 20:6–11; Ps. 106:32–33)
Moses and Aaron responded to the people’s complaints by leaving the assembly and consulting God for guidance (6). God told Moses to take the staff, assemble the people and tell the rock to give water (7–8).  

Moses and Aaron followed God’s command (so it seems in verse 9) but everything went wrong. Moses gathered the congregation, questioned it and then struck the rock with his staff (10–11) and water came forth. The people and their livestock drank; God provided water and their complaint was answered (11).  

In spite of the water God provided, the psalmist remembered this event negatively because the people angered God at the waters of Meribah (106:32–33). Meribah, the location of the story, means “Quarrel,” and it is here the psalmist said Moses became bitter and “spoke words that were rash.” The effects of Moses losing his temper were remembered long after his death. Yet, even though Moses did not obey God completely, God still provided. Thus we must remember that God’s actions are not hindered by our actions. This is good news.

Don’t Fail to Trust the Lord (Num. 20:12–13)
While God provided water for the Israelites, the psalmist was right that He was angered. God prevented Moses and Aaron from entering the promised land with the Israelites and cited their lack of trust as the reason. Moses and Aaron trusted themselves to solve the problem — hitting the rock rather than talking to it — and prevented God from making Himself holy before the Israelites. They made a small mistake that had significant consequences for each of them.

It is impossible to read this story without hearing Christ’s words in Matthew 16:18. There, Christ told Peter, (whose name means “rock”) “On this rock I will build my church.” Christ’s rebuke of Peter echoes again the reality that human leadership is frail. Even the most trusted people can fall into disobedience and so can we. Our challenge is to continually discern and seek God’s will so that we train ourselves to trust in Him at all times.