Numbers 20: A Moment of Disobedience

MIJN Team
Apr 15
2 min read

Key Verse: Numbers 20:12

"And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 'Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.'”

Numbers 20 marks a significant turning point in Israel’s wilderness journey. This chapter contains three major events:

The death of Miriam (Numbers 20:1).
Moses’ disobedience at the rock (Numbers 20:2-13).
The refusal of Edom and the death of Aaron (Numbers 20:14-29).

These events remind us that even faithful leaders are accountable to God, and disobedience has consequences.

Moses Strikes the Rock: A Costly Mistake

Once again, the Israelites complained about the lack of water, forgetting how God had provided for them in the past. Instead of trusting, they accused Moses and Aaron:

“Why have you brought us into this wilderness?”
“Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die here?”

God instructed Moses:

Take the staff.
Speak to the rock before the people.
Water would flow out for the congregation and their livestock.

But in his frustration, Moses struck the rock twice instead of speaking to it (Numbers 20:11). Though water still flowed, God rebuked Moses and Aaron for their disobedience:

“Because you did not believe in me… you shall not bring this assembly into the land.”

This was a severe consequence—Moses, the great leader of Israel, would not enter the Promised Land.

Why Was This a Serious Sin?

At first glance, Moses’ actions may not seem extreme, but they had deep significance:

Moses misrepresented God. Instead of demonstrating God’s patience, he acted in anger and frustration.
He disobeyed God’s direct command. God told him to speak to the rock, not strike it.
The rock was a picture of Christ. In Exodus 17:6, God told Moses to strike the rock, and water flowed—this pointed to Jesus being struck for our salvation. Now, in Numbers 20, the rock was only to be spoken to, signifying that Jesus does not need to be struck again—His sacrifice was once for all.
Moses took credit instead of giving glory to God. He said, “Shall we bring water for you?” instead of acknowledging God’s power.

This reminds us that obedience to God’s word matters, especially for those in leadership.

Edom’s Refusal and the Death of Aaron

When Israel sought permission to pass through Edom’s land, they were denied, forcing them to take a longer route. This setback was a result of past sins, as Edom was descended from Esau, the brother of Jacob.

Then, Aaron’s death marked another transition in leadership. His priestly garments were passed to his son Eleazar, showing that God’s work continues, even when His servants pass away.