The Way
The Waters of Meribah
A hand that struck the rock twice
Story
At Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin, the whole community of Israel unpacked their loads. It was the first month. There Miriam died and was buried. She was the sister of Moses and Aaron, the prophet who had taken up her tambourine and sung before the women on the day they crossed the sea. Her grave was dug in the wilderness earth. Before the grief had even passed, the camp ran out of water.
The people crowded around Moses and Aaron and quarrelled with them. If only we had died when our brothers died before the Lord. Why did you bring us to this terrible place? There is no grain here, no figs, no grapes, no pomegranates, and not even water to drink. When the two of them fell face down at the door of the tent of meeting, the glory of the Lord appeared. The Lord said, take the staff and gather the community. Before their eyes, speak to the rock and it will pour out its water.
Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly in front of the rock. Moses shouted at them. Listen, you rebels. Must we bring water for you out of this rock? Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water came pouring out, and the community and their animals drank. But the Lord said to the two of them, Because you did not trust me, and did not show my holiness, you will not lead this community into the land I have given them. The people called those waters Meribah.
Walk this scene on the map →God's Words
Take the staff and gather the community. Speak to that rock as they watch, and it will pour out its water.
You did not trust me enough to show my holiness before the people. So you will not bring this community into the land I have given them.
Listen, you rebels. Must we bring water out of this rock for you?
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: Num 20:1–13
Background
Meribah means quarrelling. The text says only the first month, but since Aaron died in the fifth month of the fortieth year in the wilderness, this event is thought to belong to that year too. Early in the exodus, at Rephidim, water had also come from a rock, and that place too was called Meribah.
Pause and Reflect
When I'm angry, do I let my feelings take over and hide God's holiness?