Números 27

Números 27

Morgan - Num. 27:13 When thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people.—Num. 27 13. There is something inexpressibly solemn in the story of Moses. In the plan of God the time was come when it was necessary that the people should go in and possess the land from which they had been excluded so long. Moses was not permitted to enter with them. In a sad hour he had failed to represent God truthfully to the people (Num 20); and this was the punishment of that failure. There was no relaxing of this discipline even in the case of this man. Nevertheless there was great tenderness in God's dealings with him in these closing scenes, and the evidence of his greatness is marked by his perfect acquiescence in the will of God. When this command to ascend the mountain, and look upon the land he could not enter, was given to him, his one anxiety was for the flock of God, that it might have a shepherd. He knew, as no other man knew, their weakness, and the necessity for one to lead them according to the will of God. The request was granted, and to him was given the joy and satisfaction of knowing that the appointed man was one of God's own choosing. The account of his going is given at the end of Deuteronomy, but these words bring the facts before us in this book, which is the book revealing the Divine discipline of failing people; and it serves to keep before us the fact that the most faithful servants of God cannot escape the results of their failures in this life. The compensations of grace are found afterwards, and to this man it was given to stand with glory wrapt around On the hills he never trod, And speak of the strife which won our life, With the incarnate Son of God. (Life Applications from Every Chapter of the Bible) Numbers 27:14 for in the wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against My command to treat Me as holy before their eyes at the water." (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.) rebelled: Nu 20:8-13 De 1:37 Dt 32:51,52 Ps 106:32,33 Meribah: Nu 20:1,13,24 Ex 17:7 Related Passages: Numbers 20:8-13 (commentary) “Take the rod; and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it may yield its water. You shall thus bring forth water for them out of the rock and let the congregation and their beasts drink.” 9 So Moses took the rod from before the LORD, just as He had commanded him; 10 and Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. And he said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation and their beasts drank. 12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” 13 Those were the waters of Meribah, because the sons of Israel contended with the LORD, and He proved Himself holy among them. Deuteronomy 1:37 “The LORD was angry with me also on your account, saying, ‘Not even you shall enter there. Deuteronomy 32:50-51 “Then die on the mountain where you ascend, and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people, 51 because you broke faith with Me in the midst of the sons of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, because you did not treat Me as holy in the midst of the sons of Israel. Psalm 106:32-33 (commentary) They also provoked Him to wrath at the waters of Meribah, So that it went hard with Moses on their account; 33 Because they were rebellious against His Spirit, He (MOSES) spoke rashly with his lips. Wilderness of Zin - click to enlarge THE REASON FOR MOSES' DISQUALIFICATION For - Term of explanation. Explains why Moses and Aaron forfeited their trip to the Promised Land. In the wilderness of Zin (another map), during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled (marah) against My command to treat Me as holy before their eyes at the water - Strife (noun meribah) means strife, contention, a state of quarreling or wrangling. ISBE - The Wilderness of Zin is the tract deriving its name from the town (Numbers 34:3). It is identified with the wilderness of Kadesh in Numbers 33:36; while in other places Kadesh is said to be in the wilderness of Zin (Numbers 20:1; Numbers 27:14 Deuteronomy 32:51). We may take it that the two names refer to the same region. The spies, who set out from Kadesh-barnea, explored the land from the wilderness of Zin northward (Numbers 13:21; compare 32:8). It bordered with Judah "at the uttermost part of the south" (Joshua 15:1). In this wilderness Moses committed the offense which cost him his hope of entering the promised land (Numbers 27:14 Deuteronomy 32:51). It is identical with the uplands lying to the North and Northwest of the wilderness of Paran, now occupied by the `Azazimeh Arabs. NET NOTE on treat Me as holy - Using the basic meaning of the word קָדַשׁ (qadash, “to be separate, distinct, set apart”), we can understand better what Moses failed to do. He was supposed to have acted in a way that would have shown God to be distinct, different, holy. Instead, he gave the impression that God was capricious and hostile—very human. The leader has to be aware of what image he is conveying to the people. These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin - This is similar to Nu 20:13 (commentary) "Those were the waters of Meribah, because the sons of Israel contended with the LORD, and He proved Himself holy among them." Recall that there are two Meriabh's, first at Mt Sinai and second 38+ years later near Kadesh, this name being added to Meribah to indicate it is the event shortly prior to Israel entering the promised land. The Septuagint translates "waters of Meribah" (hudor antilogias) as waters of dispute, contradiction, hostility, rebellion (all conveyed by the Greek antilogia). Brian Bell - What did he do again that was so bad? He dishonored the Lord by deviating from His plan to provide water for the people at Meribah. He had drawn attention to himself instead of to God. He obscured God’s holiness & glory. He allowed his frustration with the people to momentarily weaken his faith. Bell - Was this hard for Moses? Did he ever beg to be allowed to enter? I also pleaded with the LORD at that time, saying, 24‘ O Lord GOD, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your strong hand; for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as Yours? 25 ‘Let me, I pray, cross over and see the fair land that is beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and Lebanon.’ 26 “But the LORD was angry with me on your account, and would not listen to me; and the LORD said to me, ‘Enough! Speak to Me no more of this matter. 27 ‘Go up to the top of Pisgah and lift up your eyes to the west and north and south and east, and see it with your eyes, for you shall not cross over this Jordan. 28 ‘But charge Joshua and encourage him and strengthen him, for he shall go across at the head of this people, and he will give them as an inheritance the land which you will see (MOSES REPRESENTS THE LAW - CAN NEVER GIVE US THE INHERITANCE. JOSHUA REPRESENTS JESUS WHO ALONE CAN GIVE US THE INHERITANCE. 1 Peter 1:3-4+, Heb 9:15+) .’ 29 “So we remained in the valley opposite Beth-peor. (Deut.3:23-29). Bell adds that Canaan doesn’t represent heaven, but of the believers inheritance “He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” A whole generation died & never saw the land. 10 of the spies saw the land for 40 days & then died in their unbelief. Moses saw the land but could not enter it. The new generation, along with Caleb & Joshua, entered the land & claimed their promised inheritance. (Warren Wiersbe; With The Word; pg.101.102) Henry