Numbers

Numbers 20: God is holy and gives water

Begin in prayer

Before hearing how water flowed from the rock and leaders answered to God, let us bow before His holiness. Ask Him for thankful trust and for eyes to see the faithful Savior.

They angered him also at the waters of Meribah, so that Moses was troubled for their sakes;

Psalm 106:32

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Teach us to honour Your holiness and trust Your care, and show us Jesus, who obeyed You without failure. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

At Kadesh, Miriam dies, and Israel quarrels with Moses and Aaron because there is no water. God commands Moses to speak to the rock, but he strikes it twice, and abundant water flows for people and livestock. God says the leaders’ unbelief has failed to show His holiness, so they will not bring Israel into the land. Moses then asks Edom for passage along the highway, offering to pay for any water used. Edom refuses and comes out with a strong force, so Israel turns away. At Mount Hor, Aaron’s garments are put on Eleazar, and Aaron dies as the Lord has declared. Israel mourns him for thirty days.

As you read Numbers 20, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God provides for His people and requires His leaders to honour His holiness.

Miriam dies at Kadesh, and the people face a shortage of water. Their quarrelling again turns need into an accusation against the God who rescued them. God promises water from the rock and tells Moses to speak to it before the people. Moses strikes it twice and speaks as though he and Aaron will bring the water. God supplies abundantly, yet He says the leaders have failed to believe Him and show His holiness. Their sin means they will not lead Israel into the land, and Aaron dies before the journey is complete. God’s provision never gives a leader permission to disregard His word.

How does Numbers 20 show us that God provides for His people and requires His leaders to honour His holiness?

God gives abundant water to people who quarrel with Him.

God promises water for the congregation and their livestock. Moses strikes the rock, and the water comes abundantly despite his disobedience. Their drink is mercy from the Lord, and no leader can claim the credit for it.

God holds His leaders responsible to honour His word.

Moses strikes twice when God has told him to speak. God names the sin as unbelief and failure to show Him holy before Israel. Moses and Aaron will not lead the people into the land because they rebelled against His command.

God continues His people’s journey as their leaders pass away.

Edom refuses passage, and Israel turns away instead of forcing its way through. Then Aaron’s priestly garments pass to Eleazar before Aaron dies. The people mourn, and God provides another priest for the journey ahead.

Memorise

These are the waters of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with Yahweh, and he was sanctified in them.

Numbers 20:13

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what sin do I excuse instead of bringing it to Jesus?

God tells Moses and Aaron, “you didn’t believe in me”. Water has flowed abundantly from the rock, yet their disobedience has failed to show God’s holiness. Even a faithful servant cannot set aside His command.

Our sin also falls short of the honour God deserves. Jesus obeyed His Father perfectly and bore the guilt of His people on the cross. He suffered for them, then rose bodily from the dead. His saving obedience and sacrifice have finished the work, and nothing needs to be added for their rescue.

Turn from the sin you have excused, and trust Jesus. His completed sacrifice brings forgiveness to those who rely on Him. Please receive God’s kindness with reverence. The Savior who provides for His people teaches them to honour the Father in thankful obedience.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God’s kindness never makes disobedience right, and Jesus alone obeyed perfectly and died for His people’s sin. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for water given in mercy and holiness that calls for obedience, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith?

Luke 12:28

Father, thank You for caring for Israel even while the people quarrelled. Please forgive our unbelief and every excuse we make for disobedience. Turn us to Jesus, whose saving work is sufficient. Teach us to honour Your holiness, receive Your gifts with thanks and obey Your Word this week. Amen.