47. Second Strike Brings Out the Clear Spring from Rock. You failed, and it seems the gods have abandoned you. What will you do in the end?

“But if you drink the living water I have given you, you will never thirst again. The water I give will become in him a fountain of life, flowing endlessly until eternal life. ” [John 4:14]

Day by day, year after year, the elderly Israelites slowly died, the middle-aged slowly became elderly, and the young slowly became middle-aged. The desolate desert stained their temples gray, impossible to wash away. Their once bright eyes were like yellow sand floating in water, murky and unclear. They waste time in the desert, slowly fading away. The yellow sand is their grave and home.

Young people envy the elderly who died first, because they have already broken free from the bonds of the desert and returned to their ancestors, while they themselves must patiently wait for time to pass until forty years end. Forty years of no labor, no slavery, no war, no fear, yet no hope, no vitality.

And who else could he blame for all of this besides himself? When the twelve scouts returned, didn’t everyone cry and refuse to enter Canaan? God granted their choice, allowing them to escape the risk of war. Since they did not want to enter Canaan, God had no choice but to let them wander in the desert, living a peaceful but bleak life. Originally, God had allowed them to enter Canaan within two years, but because they did not believe in God’s great power, they wandered for forty years and ultimately died deep in the desert. Not only that, their children also have to spend their days with them.

Forty years are finally almost over. Moses led the people to camp at Kadesh. It was early spring, in Israel’s January, yet there wasn’t a single cloud in the sky, and no early spring wildflowers could be seen at the station. The first thing to do after setting up camp was to find a water source. The people dug wells everywhere, but all they dug out was dry and hard sand. Dozens of wells were dug down, but there was no sign of water. People finally despair. In their despair, they look up at the sky, but there is still not a single cloud in sight. In despair, they turned to look at the cloud pillar above the tabernacle, the cloud pearl frozen in place, motionless. In despair, they looked back at Moses and Aaron, finally finding an outlet for their anger.

They surrounded Moses and Aaron, wiped the sweat from their foreheads, and loudly complained, “Why have you brought God’s people into this barren land?” Aren’t you a prophet? Didn’t you already know there was no water here? Are you planning to make us and the livestock die of thirst here? Is it precisely for the purpose of leading us out of Egypt that we die in this barren land? Is this a land of milk and honey? Not to mention the absence of grains, fig trees, grapevines, and pomegranate trees here—not even a single droplet. ”

Moses and Aaron listened, their faces pale as stone, said nothing, left the congregation, and came to the entrance of the tabernacle, where they fell face down on the ground. The people knew they wanted to converse with God, so they dared not approach, hiding from a distance to watch. God’s glory was revealed to Moses and Aaron. Since God deliberately led them into a camp without water, there must be a purpose. God said to Moses: “Take your staff and gather the assembly with your brother Aaron, and in their presence command the rock to flow out of water, and the water will flow out from the rock for the assembly and the livestock to drink.”

Moses listened and continued to lie on the ground, waiting for God to unleash His wrath on the people as before. But God did not. This time, God’s intention was not to punish them, but to give these people waiting to die in despair a miracle, a confirmation. God wanted them to see that living water could flow from the rock; although they could not enter Canaan, God had not abandoned them. They only ask God, and God will surely supply them with the waters of grace.

Moses was not a god, so he naturally did not understand God’s intentions. His anger surged like a whirlwind rising in the desert. He led Aaron out of the tent and returned to the people, and seeing the faces of the people waiting angrily and thirsty, Moses’ anger grew even stronger. When will these people learn to trust God, when will they stop complaining, when will they remember God’s past grace? Forty years have been wasted by you in vain. I could have gone to Canaan to rest at eighty-two, but you dragged me down to 120 and still wandering.

Moses said loudly to the people, “Follow me.” He and Aaron led the people to the rock God had appointed. The people held back their thirst and did not understand Moses’ intentions, so they stood still and looked at Him. Moses raised his staff, pointed at the people, and angrily rebuked, “You rebels, do you want us to make the rock flow water for you?” After saying this, Moses turned around, raised his staff forcefully, and struck the rock hard, but it didn’t budge an inch. Moses was stunned, then raised his staff again and struck the rock hard. The rock cracked open, and clear water gushed forth. Seeing this, the people cheered and leapt for joy, knelt on the ground, scooped up water with both hands, and drank freely. That place is called Miliba Springs.

But God wanted to hold Moses and Aaron accountable. God told Moses to bring forth water from the rock, but Moses struck the rock; God let Moses witness His grace, but Moses judged the people just as God did. God said to Moses and Aaron, “You do not have enough faith in me and have not sanctified me in the presence of the Israelites, so you must not lead the congregation into the land I am about to give them.” ”

Moses and Aaron listened, lowered their heads, and did not defend themselves. Who is qualified to debate with God? Moses may have suddenly realized that God had let him lead the Israelites in the desert for forty years, not to torment him, but to put him to good use. The reason the people listened to him was not because of Moses’ great power, but because of the God behind Moses. God let Moses lead the Israelites, giving him a heavy responsibility, not the privilege of acting on behalf of heaven. Moses’ failure once again reveals human helplessness and limitations. Ultimately, salvation must be carried out by God Himself.

The assembly of Israel set out from Kadesh, left camp, and marched to Mount Hore. God said to Moses and Aaron, “Aaron is going to his ancestors, and he cannot enter the land I gave to the Israelites, because you have disobeyed my command at the Miribah spring.”

Moses, take Aaron and his son Eleazar up Mount Hore, take off Aaron’s holy garments and put them on his son Elesa, because Aaron will die there. Moses and Aaron listened and did as instructed, and the three of them went up the mountain. Aaron died on the mountaintop at the age of 123. The Israelites mourned Aaron at the foot of the mountain for thirty days. Moses knew his time of death was near, because the forty years had passed. The adults of Israel who had left Egypt, except for Caleb and Joshua among the twelve spies, had all died. A younger generation had already risen, and God wanted to lead them into Canaan.