Moses Fails on the Border of Canaan
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These directions should have been sufficient to explain why their
supply of water had been cut off; they were about to pass through a
well-watered, fertile country, in a direct course to the land of Canaan.
The cessation of the miraculous flow of water should therefore have
been a cause of rejoicing, a token that the wilderness wandering was
ended. But the people seemed to have given up all hope that God
would bring them into Canaan, and they clamored for the blessings of
the wilderness.
The water ceased before they had reached Edom. There was op-
portunity for a little time to walk by faith instead of sight. But the first
trial developed the same spirit manifested by their fathers. They forgot
the hand that had for so many years supplied their wants. Instead of
turning to God for help, they murmured in desperation, exclaiming,
“Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord!”
(that is, in the rebellion of Korah).
Moses and Aaron, the leaders, went to the door of the tabernacle
and fell upon their faces. Moses was directed, “Take the rod, and
gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and
speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his
water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock.”
The two brothers were now aged men. Long had they borne with
the rebellion of Israel. But now, at last the patience of Moses gave
way. “Hear now, ye rebels,” he cried, “must we fetch you water of this
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rock?” Instead of speaking to the rock, as God had commanded him,
he smote it twice with the rod.
The water gushed forth in abundance, but a great wrong had been
done. Moses had spoken from irritated feelings. “Hear now, ye rebels,”
he said. This accusation was true, but even truth is not to be spoken in
passion or impatience. When he took it upon himself to accuse them,
he grieved the Spirit of God. His lack of self-control was evident. Thus
the people were given occasion to question whether his past course
had been under the direction of God. They had now found the pretext
desired for rejecting the reproofs God had sent through His servant.
Moses Distrusted God
Moses manifested distrust of God. “Shall we bring water?” he
questioned, as if the Lord would not do what He promised. “Ye