The Rock and the Rod

In Exodus 17 and Numbers 20 we read that Moses brought water for the Israelites to drink out of a rock. In the first instance, he was told to "strike the rock", verse 6. The rod he was to use was "the staff with which you did smite the river".

The river referred to above appears to be the river Nile, which Jehovah turned into blood.

The second instance is when Moses is told to take a rod, and speak to a rock. In Numbers 20 verse 8 he is told "Take the rod"; in verse 9 "Moses took the rod from before Jehovah". So, which rod was it in this instance? I have noticed that in three bibles, the margin refers back to Aaron's rod that budded, Numbers 17 v 6 - 11.

However, there is a possible question, in that we read in Numbers 20v 11 another reference to a rod: "Moses...with his rod smote the rock twice".

Is this rod the same rod he took "from before Jehovah", Aaron's rod? If not, then Moses must have had two rods with him the instant he struck the rock in Numbers 20: Aaron's, and his own. Otherwise, it must have been Aaron's rod that Moses used to strike the rock.

Also, we read in Numbers 17 v 10 that Aaron's rod, which budded, was to be a token to silence the rebels of Israel. Now, if it was Aaron's rod that Moses held when he was supposed to speak to the rock, cold it be that it contributed to his being reminded in a stronger way as to how rebellious the Israelites were? It may have made his response in Numbers 20 v 10 & 11 more likely.

Daniel Via
USA
danielvia@copper.net

It is clear to me that the "the staff" mentioned in Numbers 20.8 refers to Aaron's staff of Numbers 17.10 (cf. the context of chapter 17 and particularly verses 5 and 10).  Aaron's staff was a witness against the rebellion of the people of Israel and it seems clear to me that it was the staff that Jehovah told Moses to take when he was to speak to the rock (by the way, Aaron was to accompany Moses).

Furthermore, I believe you are quite correct in suggesting that Moses had yet another staff with him (i.e., "his staff") in Numbers 20 which he used to smite the rock.  I feel that it refers to the staff of Moses used judicially against Egypt, as seen throughout the book of Exodus.  The contrast between Moses' staff used in judgment against Egypt and Aaron's staff setting forth how Jehovah was vindicated against the "sons of rebellion" (cf. Numbers 16 and 17 verse 10) by the act of his faithful whom He then chose among the people (Aaron's staff represented the whole house of Levi) should not be overlooked.  One was a token of judgment against this world and the other a token of God's discipline of His people.  With the latter staff Moses was to hallow Jehovah before the eyes of His rebellious people, a priestly work founded on His grace.

The message to me in this scripture is that Moses failed to sanctify Jehovah in the eyes of His people.  It was Jehovah's mind to display grace to His murmuring people.  It was not a moment for Moses to act judicially in the heat of his own anger.  We sometimes feel that we need to bring down fire from heaven on those who reject the Lord (Luke 9 52 - 55).  This disobedience on the part of Moses became for him a "sin unto death" and he was not permitted to enter the land Jehovah had promised to His people. It was a very grave act in the eyes of Jehovah.

How even the best of men fail in their responsibility towards God.  Only Jesus perfectly did His Father's will.  What a critical blemish on the otherwise wonderful record of Moses, such a great, lovely and holy man.

I discovered your website today and so far have enjoyed it.

God bless you.

Daniel Via