366
Patriarchs and Prophets
Ye shall buy meat of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall
also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink.”
Deuteronomy
2:3-6
. 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.
God had promised them an unmolested passage through Edom, and an
opportunity to purchase food, and also water sufficient to supply the
host. The cessation of the miraculous flow of water should therefore
have been a cause of rejoicing, a token that the wilderness wandering
was ended. Had they not been blinded by their unbelief, they would
have understood this. But that which should have been an evidence of
the fulfillment of God’s promise was made the occasion of doubt and
murmuring. The people seemed to have given up all hope that God
would bring them into possession of Canaan, and they clamored for
the blessings of the wilderness.
Before God permitted them to enter Canaan, they must show that
they believed His promise. The water ceased before they had reached
Edom. Here was an opportunity for them, for a little time, to walk by
faith instead of sight. But the first trial developed the same turbulent,
unthankful spirit that had been manifested by their fathers. No sooner
was the cry for water heard in the encampment than they forgot the
hand that had for so many years supplied their wants, and instead of
turning to God for help, they murmured against Him , in their despera-
tion exclaiming, “Would God that we had died when our brethren died
before the Lord!” (
Numbers 20:1-13
); that is, they wished they had
been of the number who were destroyed in the rebellion of Korah.
Their cries were directed against Moses and Aaron: “Why have
ye brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness, that
we and our cattle should die there? And wherefore have ye made us to
come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place
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of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any
water to drink.”
The leaders went to the door of the tabernacle and fell upon their
faces. Again “the glory of the Lord appeared,” and 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.”