Year 1, Week 18, Day 2 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 18, Day 2

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Numbers 20-21.

Today’s reading provides a travel narrative for a portion of Israel’s wilderness journey. In addition, today’s reading marks a generational transition, as seen in the reports of the deaths of Miriam and Aaron, signifying the shift from the Exodus generation to the generation who will enter the Promised Land. Numbers 20 is oriented by the death of Miriam and Aaron, but in between there is the tragedy at Meribah, and the refusal of Edom to grant Israel passage. Numbers 21 reflects the younger generation of Israelites, who although they still struggle with trusting in the LORD; are nevertheless, enabled to realize victory as a foretaste of future victories that Israel will experience when the enter they Promised Land.

What struck me in today’s reading is the LORD’s patience that is displayed toward Israel: “The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” (Psalm 145:8). Today’s reading fast-forwards to the last year or so of Israel’s wilderness wanderings. Numbers 20 opens with a death: “And the people of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh. And Miriam died there and was buried there” (Numbers 20:1); and closes with a death: “And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. And Aaron died there on the top of the mountain” (Numbers 20:28). The time span between the end of Numbers 19 and the opening of Numbers 20 is at least thirty-eight years. The deaths of Miriam and Aaron reflect the dying off of the entire adult population that Moses had led out of Egypt (save Joshua and Caleb).

With the emergence of a new generation, the nature of unbelief had not improved: "Now there was no water for the congregation. And they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron…and said, “Would that we had perished when our brothers perished before the LORD! Why have you brought the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we should die here, both we and our cattle?” (Numbers 20:2-4). Moses had heard this same complaint almost forty years earlier (see Exodus 17), and while he has been patient and quick to intercede for the Israelites, something occurs in Moses on this occasion: “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” And 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.” (Numbers 20:10-11). Moses had been told to speak to the rock, but he disobeyed and  instead, struck it. The consequence Moses faced for dishonoring the LORD, were swift and severe: “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 20:12). Moses would not reach the Promised Land. And while it seems that Moses had lost patience with the Israelites, the LORD was still displaying His patience toward His people.

And while the Israelites are prevented from passing through Edom, there would be a noticeable turn of events beyond this point. The LORD would begin granting the Israelites victories in battle: “And Israel vowed a vow to the LORD and said, “If you will indeed give this people into my hand, then I will devote their cities to destruction.” And the LORD heeded the voice of Israel and gave over the Canaanites, and they devoted them and their cities to destruction” (Numbers 21:2-3). The LORD would also grant victory over two kings of the Amorites—Sihon and Og: “And Israel defeated him with the edge of the sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as to the Ammonites, for the border of the Ammonites was strong” (Numbers 21:24); and “So they defeated him and his sons and all his people, until he had no survivor left. And they possessed his land.” (Numbers 21:35).

But the patience of the LORD was still on display. In between the battle victories, the Israelites did not let go of their grumbling. In spite of decades of daily manna, faithfully provided by the LORD, the Israelites declared: “And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” (Numbers 21:5). In response, the LORD disciplines them: “Then the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died.” (Numbers 21:6). As the Israelites cry out, the LORD instructs Moses: “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” (Numbers 21:8). The LORD’s patience toward Israel is seen through His provision to spare them from further judgment. We should not see the raised image of the serpent as something magical. The elevated bronze serpent, in the immediate context, is simply used by the LORD to direct the Israelites to take God at His Word, trusting Him by looking to what He tangibly provided as a symbolic object for their faith. It was the LORD Himself, who spared the Israelites from the deadly effects of their snake bits. But the bronze serpent was a tangible object to consider as they trusted in the LORD. Beyond the immediate context, the raised serpent is a preview of an even greater reality of God’s saving work: “as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15, see also John 8:28, 12:32-34).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe