The Israelites thirst for water in the scorching desert
“And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD! And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there? And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink. 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” Numbers 20:2 – 6
- The Israelites’ plight for water at at “waters of Merivah” should be understood figuratively. “There is no water save for the Torah” (Babylonian Talmud, Tractate of Bava Kamma 82a). It follows that the Israelites’ thirst is in fact spiritual. God commands Moses to “speak to the rock”; God’s hidden message is that Moses should patiently teach the Israelites and explain the Torah to them. However, Moses becomes irritated by the Israelites’ constant complaints – and he instead hits the rock. It appears that the Israelites’ request is quite reasonable – they require water for their bodies and their souls – and Moses should have tried to quench their thirst (i.e., share from his wisdom) rather than lose his temper.
- Moses’ behavior and loss of control are a sign that his leadership skills are no longer suitable for this new generation. The conquest is about to begin and the people need someone new to guide them. Moses displays impatience, whereas a leader must adapt to ever – changing challenges.
Moses hits the rock; water begins to flow only after his second attempt
“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. And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him. And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly” Numbers 20:7 – 13
- The masses tend to be shortsighted, which is the reason they should not meddle in their leaders’ decisions. In this story, two leaders come under extreme social pressure and make a terrible mistake – they allow their followers to dictate their conduct. The ramifications of Moses and Aaron’s actions are catastrophic for all. They fail to sanctify God’s name (“Because you did not trust Me enough to affirm My sanctity”; Numbers 20:12) and are consequently banned from entering the land of Israel. Moses and Aaron have missed their chance. This is part of what being a righteous individual entails: “The Holy One, Blessed be He, is exacting with His surroundings, [i.e., the righteous who are close to Him], up to a hairsbreadth [so that even slight deviations can elicit severe punishment]” (Babylonian Talmud, Tractate of Yevamot 121b). Moses and Aaron are supposed to help the people advance spiritually, but they fail to do so. Had they been patient and shared deep insights with the Israelites, water would have effortlessly sprung from the rock.
Pearls of Divine Wisdom: “The Ritual”
- Though we may live in a state of moral blindness and selfishness – and even be led to believe that this is the way to reach perfection – only a worldview of generosity and spiritual growth will unveil a reality that is always radiant and full of light.
- Purity cannot spring forth from impurity. Spiritual cleanliness is a long process that demands self – restraint and perseverance. Improving our worldview can help us to open our eyes and see reality for what it actually is.
- Physical dehydration can be a sign of intellectual and spiritual thirst. We must not act impatiently toward curious people. Instead, we should quench their thirst for knowledge.
- When there is patience, study, and improvement – water can spring forth from rock. However, this opportunity can be missed if God’s name is not sanctified.
- Groups tend to suffer from shortsightedness – which is the reason masses should not dictate the decisions of their leaders. In this story, Moses and Aaron are under extreme social pressure and make a mistake.
- Through study and perseverance, we can unlock the highest of spiritual levels. When a person engages in reflection and altruism, pure water can spring forth even from hearts of stone.
Whether from teachers or experience, the lessons we learn guide us toward leading a masterful life.
