ADULT STS LESSON 107 THE DISOBEDIENCE OF MOSES AND AARON’S DEATH
MEMORY VERSE: “And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them” (Numbers 20:12).
TEXT: Numbers 20:1-29
Israel’s impatience with Moses and God led to a chain of tragedies. Often times, it brought preventable punishments and exposed them to their enemies. In our text, Moses was caught off guard and spoke angrily to God’s people due to provocation by the ungodly lifestyle of the people (Psalm 106:33). He struck the rock instead of speaking to it to bring out water as instructed by God. Although water came out of the rock, he and Aaron had incurred divine wrath. They failed just as they were at the verge of getting into the Promised Land. Rather than help to raise the weary hands of Moses and Aaron, Israel pushed their leaders to the precipice and made them unable to enter the land of Canaan. This was the first month of the fortieth year since they left Egypt. The next station was mount Hor where Aaron died in the fifth month of the fortieth year (Numbers 33:38). What a train of evil sin sets on! We should be careful the way we relate with God despite His great love for mankind. The meekest man was not patient enough to take heed to the commandment of God and thus, incurred His displeasure and the death of Aaron at this time. After Aaron’s death, Eleazar his son succeeded him as the high priest. Our text also reveals how Israel appealed to Edom for passage through their land, but they refused. This study is a reminder to contemporary saints to live in constant obedience to God in accordance with His word and command.
1.MURMURING AND CONTENTION AGAINST LEADERS (Numbers 20:1-6: Exodus 14:11; 15:24; 16:2:17:1-6; Numbers 11:1; Philippians 4:6; 1 Peter 5:7; Hebrews 3:12,19; 4:6; 11:6)
“Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was there” (Numbers 20:11). Miriam was the daughter of Amram and Jochebed and sister of Moses and Aaron. She came into the limelight after the crossing of the Red Sea by the children of Israel. She, with her timbrel, led the chorus of the women to praise God for His wondrous works. Referred to as “Aaron’s sister,” she occupied a prominent place in the congregation and was an instrument of much good to Israel. Her blemish was her envious attitude at the exalted position of Moses. She was, afterward, struck with leprosy, which led to delay in the progress of the whole congregation. Moses prayed for her and she was healed. It is noteworthy that Miriam’s once godly life was never heard of again until this chapter where her death is recorded. Miriam’s death at Kadesh was an important point in the journey from Egypt to Canaan. Her death showed that everyone is bound to die one day. We must all be conscious of this fact and live everytime in preparation to meet the Lord. The condition for entering heaven is clearly stated in the Scriptures: “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). “And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron” (Numbers 20:2). The children of Israel were wont to murmur and complain whenever they lacked anything, despite the various manifestations of God’s miraculous power among them (Exodus 14:11; 15:24; 16:2;17:3; Numbers 11:1). Here, they chided Moses and Aaron because of lack of water instead of trusting God to provide it; He did so at Rephidim (Exodus 17:2-7). But their response to this need was filled with unbelief, murmuring and complaints and led them to make outrageous statements against Moses and God. They openly doubted God’s promise that He would lead them into the land of promise and questioned their deliverance from bondage in Egypt which God wrought with great power, signs and wonders. Just as the Israelites had need of water, believers are to note that as long as we live on this side of eternity, the challenges of life are inevitable. They may be in form of delay in getting a marriage partner, fruit of the womb, healing, employment and daily provision for the family. These challenges are not meant to destroy us; neither do they mean the absence of God from His people. God allows them sometimes, to make us have faith in Him to meet every need of our lives. Whatever the challenge we face, murmuring, complaining and unbelief should never be the disposition of a heaven-bound saint. God’s children are to “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God…for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Philippians 4:6; Hebrews 13:5). Knowing that the Lord will be displeased with the unbelieving attitude of the children of Israel, Moses and Aaron left the assembly of the people to seek the face of the Lord. “And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them” (Numbers 20:6). Pastors and church leaders are to seek the face of God in prayer for the spiritual and physical needs of the people He has committed under their care.
2. MOSES’ DISOBEDIENCE TO GOD’S INSTRUCTION (Numbers 20:7-13; 1 Samuel 15:22; Psalm 106:32,33; 1 Kings 11:11; Jeremiah 18:9,10; 2 Peter 2:20-22 Romans 2:11)
God was prompt in responding to the problem of water which the children of Israel raised “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink” (Numbers 20:7.81. Specifically. God told Moses to take the rod and speak to the rock before the people. Back at Rephidim, God had told him to smite the rock and water would come out (Exodus 17:6). In this case, he was to speak to the rock, with the rod in his hand. This rod was a symbol of his authority from God. How God decides to solve a problem is completely His prerogative. He cannot be stereotyped. The Lord may choose to meet similar challenges using different methods. What God requires from His servants is implicit obedience to His commands. “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22). Moses began by doing exactly what the Lord had instructed him to do. Afterwards, he did what God had not told him to do: he spoke to the congregation of the children of Israel with anger and contempt (Psalm 106:32,33). He called God’s people rebels. He took the rebellion of the people against the Lord personal: “…must we fetch you water out of this rock?” (Numbers 20:10). Instead of speaking, he struck the rock twice with his rod. The Lord will not spare any member of the Body of Christ who wilfully goes into sin and remains in disobedience. Likewise, He will not overlook a sinning minister, preacher or pastor. He will punish sin wherever it is found. “Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered” (Proverbs 11:21). Though God forgave Moses and he made it to heaven (Matthew 17:1-3), he lost the joy of entering the earthly Promised Land. Despite Moses’ disobedience, God still provided abundantly for the people. This teaches us that God’s love for His people is so great. However, the fact that He uses someone is no sign of approval of that person’s life. Believers, especially Christian leaders, should watch over their lives lest after they have preached to others, they should become castaways (1 Corinthians 9:27). God would deal with Moses, but the people needed water and so it was provided. Moses might have come away thinking he did right, and the people probably thought so as well because what he did seemed to work, but what works is not always the best measure of what is right before God. “Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed” (1 Samuel 2:3).
3. MESSAGE TO THE KING OF EDOM AND THE DEATH OF AARON (Numbers 20:14-29; 1 Peter 2:13; Romans 12:17-21; 1 Peter 2:20-23; Hebrews 4:14-16; Acts 4:12, John 14:6).
The children of Israel were now at Kadesh and they wanted to go through the land of Edom. “And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel… Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king’s high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders” (Numbers.20:14,17). Edom refused this humble request. Consequently, Israel had to turn away from their border. Recall that the Edomites were the lineage of Esau while the Israelites are the descendants of Jacob, both children of Isaac. The unfriendliness of the Edomites is traceable the ancestor of to the age-old enmity between Esau – the Edomites, and Jacob – the father of the Israelites (Genesis 36:8,9; 32:11). That was rivalry carried too far. It showed that Esau’s children still harboured grudge against the children of Israel. All Moses asked for, on behalf of Israel, was the permission to pass through. They expected no provision from the Edomites, because they trusted God to provide all their needs. The Edomites denied Israel passage, “And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword” (Numbers 20:18). This refusal made the journey of the children of Israel much more discouraging and dangerous (Numbers 21:4,5). Despite this act, Israel was still commanded to treat the Edomites as brothers (Deuteronomy 23:7). We learn from Moses’ action that, as believers, we must maintain peace at all times with people around us by seeking their permission before we use what rightly belongs to them. Before building our churches, necessary approval must be obtained from the approving government agency to avoid unnecessary conflicts. “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18). God here, showed Israel how to leave the judgment of those who hurt them to the Lord, and love those who have acted as enemies against them (Romans 12:17-21). To maintain peace, they took a different direction. The death of Aaron was a landmark in the history of Israel. He was the first high priest of the nation and yet, not exempted from God’s decree. “Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah” (Numbers 20:24). Aaron died as a great leader who was used of God mightily as Moses’ partner (Exodus 4:27-31) to initiate the priesthood (Leviticus 8) and to plead with Moses for the people (Numbers 16:20-22). But he was not without his foibles: he was instrumental to making the golden calf for the people to worship (Exodus 32:1-4) and in challenging Moses’ authority with his sister, Miriam (Numbers 12:1,2). Aaron’s life shows us, among other things, that the office is more important than the officer. Aaron, the man, was not always worthy of respect, but Aaron the high priest always was worthy of honour. God gave special instructions about Aaron’s death, so a smooth and graceful transition could be made in passing down the position of high priest to Aaron’s oldest living son, Eleazar. The man Aaron died, but the priesthood continued. No one’s relationship with God in Israel was to depend on Aaron, but on the high priest. God has ensured there would always be a high priest for us to come to in Jesus. Unlike the high priests before Him who ceased to exist by reason of death, Christ has an unchanging priesthood (Hebrews 7:24). “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession” (Hebrews 4:14). We need not depend on any man for our salvation and relationship with God. From Aaron’s death, we are reminded of the certainty of death for all humanity (Hebrews 9:27). This calls for soberness and readiness at all times. Believers should be ready to meet and account for the ministry the Lord has committed into their hands.
Questions for review:
1. What can contemporary saints learn from the disobedience of Moses?
2. How should a believer respond to trials of life?
3. What was the sin of Moses and what can we learn from the way God responded?
4. How should believers respond to those who make themselves their enemies?
5. What can believers learn from the death of Aaron and the continuation of the priesthood?
6. Why is Christ’s priesthood different from Aaron’s?
7. How should believers comport themselves with the reality of death for all humanity?
