Day 65-66, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Numbers 19–21; Psalm 90
Note: Since this is a two-day study, it is suggested that the Scripture passage be read on Day 65 and this Bible study on Day 66.
Water is a valuable resource. We use it for drinking, cleaning, transportation, and a host of other things. In the desert, water was useful to the Israelites in typical and untypical ways. What can we learn from their experiences? Let us find out.
Waters of Cleansing
In today’s Bible reading, there is another ordinance for the cleansing of Israel’s congregation. In part, what prompts this new regulation is the result of God’s judgment on Israel for her refusal to believe in him and fight for her inheritance in Canaan. Since the Israelites rebelled against him, the rest will die in the desert, except for their children under twenty. The only exception is Caleb and Joshua (Numbers 14:29–35, NIV).
Every day many of God’s people will die in the wilderness because of their disobedience. The Israelites will touch the human remains to bury them. Later, when they fight wars, the blood of wounded and fallen soldiers will contaminate them. There is, therefore, a necessity for a law or procedure for cleansing—it would prevent the spread of disease and the spiritual contamination of the tabernacle (and later the temple). God protects his people to be healthy, and he wants them to approach him in holiness. They must not enter the tabernacle of the LORD being unclean—they would be killed for violating his holiness.
Suppose an Israelite has contact with a dead body or is exposed to a dead body or an open vessel in the same room as the deceased? In that case, he is isolated from the rest of the congregation. That person must go outside the camp, clean himself and his clothes with ashes from a pristine heifer and water (a form of soap). This is done on the third and seventh days of the week. This is in addition to a ceremonial cleansing, sprinkling him with the soap mixture. He must remain outside the camp for seven days before he is declared clean and can return.
We have no such ceremonial law or practice today. However, we take special care when coming into contact with anyone deceased to prevent catching contagious diseases.
Spiritually speaking, Jesus purifies us from all uncleanness and guilt when we confess our sins to him. We are not cleansed with soap but figuratively with his blood, which was shed on the cross for us (1John 1:7).The Waters of Testing
God put the Israelites through a couple years of hard tests. Can we relate to that? Why? Maybe he is putting us through some deep waters for the same reason that he did it for them. He put the Israelites through tests because they needed to believe in their God and totally rely upon him. They failed. They tried the LORD’s patience beyond any reasonable endurance (Numbers 14:22). Because of their sins, rebellion, and lack of faith, they would have to endure the desert hardships for forty more years. Added to these afflictions would be the daily emotional distress of funerals.
Not many changes happen in their forty years of wandering in the desert. Moses and Aaron are fed up with listening to Israel’s complaints. When God tells Moses to speak to “that rock” (evidently a rock which holds back a large spring of water), Moses exhibits his exasperation with the people. He says to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” (Numbers 20:10, NIV; emphasis mine). And then, instead of speaking to it, Moses strikes the rock twice with his staff!
Afterward, “… the LORD says to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them’” (Numbers 20:10-12, NIV).
What Moses did may seem like a small violation of God’s instructions. Still, Moses and Aaron are Israel’s spiritual leaders. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:48b, NIV). By striking the rock instead of speaking to it, Moses and Aaron were taking glory for themselves. They needed to give the LORD credit for everything in the eyes of the people.
Leaders must rule with diligence (Romans 12:8; 2 Peter 1:5), and spiritual leaders, especially, need to do all the will of the LORD in the way he wants it done. Do we give God all the glory, or do we draw attention to ourselves for attention? Every spiritual leader and Christian parent should be careful to give the LORD all the praise, even when tired or fed up with circumstances. He honors those who honor him (1Samuel 2:30).
After forty years of shepherding sheep and cattle in the desert, the Israelites return to Kadesh. (Numbers 20:1, NIV). From Kadesh, Israel seeks permission to go through Edom on the King’s Highway. This is the most direct and easiest route from the south of Edom to the north towards Damascus. However, the Edomites (descendants of Esau) absolutely refuse. They even take up arms to face down the Israelites. For this sin against his brother’s descendants (Jacob, later called Israel), God will punish Edom. Discouraged and frustrated, the Israelites turn away and follow a desert path around Edom.
Fourth months later, Aaron dies on Mount Hor due to failing The Waters of Testing (Numbers 20:26; 33:38). His son, Eleazar, becomes the new high priest. After thirty days of mourning for Aaron, they continue their desert trek toward Canaan.
Once again, the people complain about the hardships of the desert and the manna. The LORD then sends snakes to bite them, and many die. The Israelites immediately recognize that they have sinned by complaining against God and opposing Moses, so they beg him to pray for them. In response, the LORD instructs Moses to build a bronze snake, and all who look upon it will live. Jesus said, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:14-15, NIV). Jesus was lifted up upon a cross of crucifixion. All who look to him in faith for salvation from their sins receive eternal spiritual life (more...).Probably toward the end of the forty years of testing, Moses writes Psalm 90. Moses and the remaining elders of Israel are likely quite tired and want to redeem some of the time they have left. They still want to lead good lives. To do this, they must recognize their wrongdoings, turn to God from their sins, and bear their trials. Then God sees their change of heart, is compassionate, and exercises mercy. This doesn’t mean that the testings will be easier from that point forward, but with the Almighty on their side, they will be able to bear it.
What about us? Are any of us being disciplined? Are we submitting to that discipline with a changed heart? God has mercy on those who humble themselves and repent; they may yet be able to lead useful lives.
Waters of Victory
After the snake incident, the Israelites live by faith (at least for a little while). There is no mention of murmuring or complaining for the next 100 miles of the Israelites’ trek toward the Promised Land. Then, without their murmuring, God leads them to a spring of water in Beer (a town near the border of Moab). The people rejoice with singing! They are refreshed!
Shortly after that, God begins to give them military victories. Once again, he is working on their behalf! They put to the sword the Amorites and Bashanites and become a threat to all the area’s kings. If we learn to trust God instead of murmuring and complaining, the LORD will also refresh our spirits and give us victories.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary of the Old Testament, by Walvoord and Zuck, © 1985, p.239
Discussion
What was the purpose of the waters of cleansing? Spiritually speaking, how are we made clean today?
God puts most of us through waters of testing. Why do you suppose that is?
Victory Waters are refreshing! When does that happen?
Focus Verse
Deuteronomy 20:4 (NIV) “For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”
Write a private prayer response to today’s Bible study:
Please send your comments to mtbiblestudies@gmail.com
A Look Ahead: Now that Israel has been through testing, in our Next Lesson they learn that God Protects His Own. Join us to find out how he does this for them and how he might do this for you.
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