READ Numbers 17–20
Apparently, many Christians do not read the Old Testament, perhaps without realizing that the NT says it can be life-changing to do so. 1 Corinthians 10 relates the experiences of God’s people leaving their bondage in Egypt and traveling to the land God promised them. It says, “Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.”
Today’s reading shows that even the strongest follower of the Lord can fail to obey Him. Moses and his brother Aaron are included in the warnings because, “These things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:11–12)
The rebellion began with the people. They were griping against their leaders so God told Moses to give a staff to each of them and to Aaron. It was placed in the tabernacle. Then . . .
On the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony, and behold, the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds . . . . And the Lord said to Moses, “Put back the staff of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebels, that you may make an end of their grumblings against me, lest they die.” (Numbers 17:8; 10)
This reading points to Jesus Christ in several ways, particularly as it lists the responsibilities of the priests, including Aaron. For instance, God told Aaron, “You and your sons and your father’s house with you shall bear iniquity connected with the sanctuary, and you and your sons with you shall bear iniquity connected with your priesthood.” (Numbers 18:1) This is what Jesus did when He died on the cross bearing our sin.
The priests were also to join Aaron in “keeping guard over the tent of meeting for all the service of the tent, and no outsider shall come near you. And you shall keep guard over the sanctuary and over the altar, that there may never again be wrath on the people of Israel.” (Numbers 18:4–5) Again, this points to Jesus who guards His people and took God’s wrath on Himself in our place. Like Jesus, Aaron and his sons must “guard your priesthood for all that concerns the altar and that is within the veil; and you shall serve. I give your priesthood as a gift, and any outsider who comes near shall be put to death.” (Numbers 18:7)
This gift included all contributions made to the Lord and all consecrated things, which were given to them as holy and “reserved from the fire” including every offering of theirs, the best of all given and everything devoted to God, including a portion of the tithes. (Numbers 18:8–9, 12–14; 26) All we have is from Jesus and for Jesus.
The people were responsible to keep themselves clean from sin, but so were their leaders. When God told Moses, “Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle” (Numbers 20:8) he failed to obey the details in this specific order . . .
Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. 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 20:11–12)
Not only that, his brother suffered the same fate: “Let Aaron be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land that I have given to the people of Israel, because you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah.” (Numbers 20:24)
For me, the bottom line is this:
Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. (1 Corinthians 10:12–14)
Idolatry is bowing before other gods and that other god can be me, my ideas, my plans. Moses was not happy with these rebels and instead of just speaking to the Rock, he struck it, ruining the image God wanted of speaking to Jesus in our need. This man let his emotions overrule the specific command of God — and that is His warning for my daily life. Let faith and obedience motivate everything. Emotions are supposed to be the ‘caboose’ not the ‘engine’ that pulls me through each day.
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