Once again Moses became an intercessor for the people. His patience with their “stiff-necked” and rebellious ways is impressive. Again, the problems reflected both the political and spiritual immaturity of a people who were enjoying their first taste of freedom.
Now a new test is developed. Where the rights of Aaron’s line were demonstrated previously in an act of judgment-violence, now the proof comes in a demonstration of fruitfulness. Aaron’s rod buds and bears almonds. It is a fitting symbol. The best evidence of our place in the purpose of God is the fruitfulness of our lives.
Ultimately, a demonstration of power only angers others so that they return later to make their case, whereas the fruits of life are persuasive.
PRAYER: I want to be one of your fruitful persons so others will find strength and sustenance in my life; in Jesus’ name. Amen.
As you read these chapters, list and analyze the qualities of character you see in Moses.
| NUMBERS 19–20; PSALMS 43–44 | Week 8, Day 6 |
This Book of Numbers mixes law and action indiscriminately, as if to say that the whole business of life is the business of law and that it touches life at every point. That seems logical, in light of the conduct of the people. They are murmurers and rebels. Again and again they find some reason to question the leadership of Moses or to complain against God. From our distance, this seems strange. We think they ought to feel profound gratitude to Moses for his tireless leadership and to God for their deliverance from slavery. But our spiritual memories are often short. Even miracles, like the encounter at the Red Sea, are forgotten or at least pushed aside when frustration sets in.
This time the issue was water. That was a valid concern, surely, but the people handle it in what seems to have been their customary fashion: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt . . . to this wretched place?” (20:5). This time Moses loses his patience. Instructed by God to speak to the rock, instead he impatiently strikes it, twice. Both he and Aaron are held responsible for this act, which was an expression of unbelief. Neither was allowed to enter the promised land, though Moses would later have opportunity to see it from afar. But Aaron’s ministry has now come to an end. In a dramatic changing of the guard, his garments are passed on to his son Eleazar. Life goes on.
PRAYER: Am I inclined to use my freedom for complaint and rebellion? If so, correct me and restore me, for your name’s sake. Amen.
What was so bad about Moses’ action that it shut him out of the promised land?
| NUMBERS 21; PSALMS 45–46 | Week 8, Day 7 |
Grumbling is a deadly sin. We don’t usually recognize that. It is an expression of unhappiness—sometimes with ourselves, sometimes with others, and sometimes with God—and it springs from our unbelief. Its deadly quality shows itself in this dramatic story, where the grumbling of the people brings a plague of deadly serpents.
The particular form of judgment may appropriately remind us of the serpent in Eden, for he did his work by a grumbling against God. The remedy for Israel is a bronze serpent, which is posted in the center of the community; any who look upon it are healed.
This bronze serpent reappears twice in the biblical story. Apparently the people kept it as a religious memento; and as happens with such items, the object itself came to be seen as a source of power. Generations later, when King Hezekiah began his religious reforms, he saw that the people were using this bronze serpent as an object of worship; so he broke it in pieces (2 Kings 18:4).
The Gospel of John uses the bronze serpent as an introduction to the most beloved verse in the Bible, making it a symbol of Jesus’ crucifixion. “And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:14-15). Jesus became the embodiment of sin so that those who look to him might be saved.
PRAYER: Help me, dear Savior, to see that however great my sins may be, you have graciously provided a remedy; in Jesus’ name. Amen.
What connections do you see between the facts that snakes were the source of the plague and that a bronze snake was used as the means of healing?
Prayer Time
Make a list of issues within your own congregation, or within the larger church, where the special guidance of the Spirit is needed, and pray daily about these issues.
How the Drama Develops NUMBERS 7–21
If our drama is going to develop properly, we have to get the Israelites to the promised land, since that is where their destiny is to be worked out.
Faith and impatience are sworn enemies. To have faith means to be willing to wait.
—From Strong Was Her Faith: Women of the New Testament (2007, 2012); page 22.
But it’s a difficult journey. And most of the difficulties have to do with common problems. One might think these biblical personalities would portray issues of titanic importance, in the style of a Greek drama. Instead, we’re dealing with matters like the water supply, unhappiness with the menu, a committee that malfunctions, and a variety of people who are jealous of the leader. That display of problems might seem trivial, but it also sounds familiar. And it indicates, on one hand, how “normal” the Israelites were, and on the other, how the everyday issues of life can be monumental in their long-term results.
Part of the trouble came from some people who are described in our translation as “the rabble” (Numbers 11:4). They were non-Israelites who had followed the Jews out of Egypt, or perhaps had joined the company along the way. Probably they were adventurers, the kind of people who had nothing to lose. So they recklessly threw themselves in with this new enterprise. They may also have been ne’er-do-wells, the kind of people who go from one uncertain venture to another.
I expect a student of human nature would say such persons would probably be the first to complain. The diet of manna grows tiresome; and suddenly they have a strong memory of the fish, the garlic, the leeks, and the onions they used to enjoy in Egypt. That kind of talk is contagious. Grumbling is one of the most infectious of all human diseases. I’ve known times in my life when I joined chorus with grumblers when, in truth, I wasn’t even unhappy. And the fallout from grumbling is unbelievable. See that when the people begin grumbling so fiercely, Moses himself becomes a grumbler, turning on God: “Why have you treated your servant so badly?” (11:11).
I expect it is this grumbling that gave fuel to the complaints of Miriam and Aaron (Numbers 12) and the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram (Numbers 16). Those who begin revolutions generally do so only if they sense a market for their wares. It’s interesting that in both cases the rebellion was based on an appeal for democracy, of sorts; in each instance the leaders insisted God might speak through them as well as through Moses (or in the later case, Moses and Aaron). Mind you, these persons weren’t making an argument for the mass of people—just for themselves!
The greatest debacle, of course, came in the exploration committee. It all seemed so logical. With the land of promise within reach, a blueribbon committee—a man from each tribe—was sent to spy out the land and bring back a report. (Might the committee have done differently if it had included some women?) The twelve were agreed