Striking the Rock

Numbers 20:1-29

I.          THE MURMURING OF THE CONGREGATION (20:1-6)

            A.            The People Abide in Kadesh (v.1)

                   1.       In the first month of the fortieth year (Num.33:36-38)

                   2.       Where Miriam died and was buried (Mic.6:4)

            B.            The People Murmur for Lack of Water (v.2-5)

1.       They gather together against Moses and Aaron (see Ps.2:1-3; 35:15; Pr.16:5)

2.       They wish they had died with their brethren (v.3; 14:2; Ex.16:3)

3.       They accused them of not fulfilling the promises (v.4-5; 16:13-14)

            C.            Moses and Aaron Go Before the Lord (v.6)

                   1.       They leave the presence of the assembly

                   2.       They come to the door of the tabernacle

                   3.       They fall on their faces before God (14:5; 16:22, 45)

                   4.       The glory of the Lord appears to them (14:10; 16:19, 42)

II.          THE SMITING OF THE ROCK (20:7-11)

            A.            The Command to Speak to the Rock (v.7-8)

                   1.       Take the rod (Ex.4:2 – consider the history of this rod)

                   2.       Gather the congregation

                   3.       Speak to the rock

                   4.       It shall bring forth water

            B.            The Typology of the Rock

                   1.       The rock is a type of Jesus Christ (1Cor.10:4)

2.       The smiting of the rock (see Ex.17:1-7) is a type of the sufferings and crucifixion of Jesus Christ (Isa.53:4-6)

3.       The water from the rock was a picture of everlasting life through faith in Jesus Christ (Jn.4:10-14)

4.       Since Jesus only needed to die once (Heb.10:10-14), the rock was to be smitten only the first time.

5.       After the initial smiting, the rock only needed to be spoken to in order to receive water from it (Rom.10:13)

            C.            The Disobedience of Moses and Aaron (v.9-11)

                   1.       Moses took the rod as commanded (v.9)

                   2.       Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation as commanded (v.10, 8)

3.       Moses then exploded is anger at their rebellion (v.10; Eph.4:26; Gen.49:5-6)

4.       Moses smote the rock two times [totally destroying the typology] (v.11)

5.       Water came forth of the rock [showing God’s grace] (v.11)

III.         THE JUDGMENT OF MOSES AND AARON (20:12-13)

            A.            The Sins of Moses and Aaron (v.12)

                   1.       Disobedience – disobeyed the commandment of the Lord (v.11)

                   2.       Disbelief – they did not believe the promise of God (v.12)

3.       Rebellion – they rebelled against the commandment of the Lord (Num.27:14); NOTE: the very thing that angered Moses the most about the congregation (v.10) became the sin that kept him out of the promised land (see Rom.2:1).

            B.            The Judgment on Moses and Aaron (v.12; Deut.3:23-26)

            C.            Called the water of Meribah (v.13)

                   1.       Because the people strove with the Lord; Meribah means strife

                   2.       The place where God was sanctified in His people

IV.        THE CONFRONTATION WITH EDOM (20:14-21)

            A.            Israel Requests to Pass by the King’s Highway (v.14-17)

            B.            Edom Threatens War if They Try to Pass (v.18-21)

V.         THE DEATH OF AARON (20:22-29)

            A.            The Congregation Comes to Mount Hor (v.22)

            B.            Aaron’s Priestly Garments are put on Eleazar (v.23-27)

            C.            Aaron Dies on Mount Hor and the People Mourn (v.28-29)

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