East Dallas Church of Christ

Stumbling Block

"They angered Him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses on account of them, because they rebelled against His Spirit so that he spoke rashly with his lips" (Psalms 106-33).

The incident mentioned in the passage above took place in Numbers 20. By no means was this the first time the Israelites had complained. Even before leaving Egypt, they had told Moses to just leave them alone and let them serve the Egyptians (Exodus 14:12). Despite seeing God's power in the 10 plagues and despite being released from centuries of cruel bondage, they had murmured and griped almost continuously for 40 years. "We want water! We don't like the food! We want new leadership! We want a god we can see!"

Now, after 40 years, they were still moaning that they would have been better off had they stayed in Egypt! Is it any wonder that Moses blew a gasket? God told him to speak to the rock and it would bring forth water for all the people. Instead, Moses spoke rashly: "Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?" Then rather than speaking to the rock, he struck it twice with his rod (Numbers 20:7-11)

The Lord held Moses and Aaron accountable: "Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them" (Numbers 20:12) Truly, Moses and Aaron sinned-but the Israelites certainly were a stumbling block to them!