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Moses Fails on the Border of Canaan
This chapter is based on Numbers 20:1-13.
The living stream of water that refreshed Israel in the desert
flowed for the first time from the rock that Moses struck in Horeb.
During all their wanderings, wherever the need existed, a miracle
made water gush out beside their camp.
It was Christ who caused the refreshing stream to flow for Israel.
“They drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock
was Christ” (
1 Corinthians 10:4
). He was the source of all physical
as well as spiritual blessings. “They did not thirst when He led them
through the deserts; He caused the waters to flow from the rock for
them; He also split the rock, and the waters gushed out.” “It ran in
the dry places like a river.” (
Isaiah 48:21
;
Psalm 105:41
).
As the life-giving waters flowed from the smitten rock, so from
Christ, “smitten by God,” “wounded for our transgressions,” “bruised
for our iniquities” (
Isaiah 53:4, 5
), the stream of salvation flows for
lost human beings. As the rock had been struck once, so Christ
was to be “offered once to bear the sins of many” (
Hebrews 9:28
).
Our Savior was not to be sacrificed a second time. The only thing
necessary for those who are wanting the blessings of His grace is
to ask in the name of Jesus, then the life-giving blood will flow out
again, represented by the flowing water for Israel.
Just before the Hebrews reached Kadesh, the living stream that
had for many years gushed out beside their camp stopped. The
Lord would test whether they would trust His leading or follow the
unbelief of their ancestors.
They could now see the hills of Canaan, which were only a short
distance from Edom. The appointed route to Canaan ran through
Edom. God had directed Moses, “Command the people, saying,
‘You are about to pass through the territory of your brethren, the
descendants of Esau ... and they will be afraid of you. ... You shall
buy food from them with money, that you may eat; and you shall also
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