Numbers 20:1-5: a reflection

1The children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month. The people stayed in Kadesh. Miriam died there, and was buried there. 2There was no water for the congregation; and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. 3The people quarreled with Moses, and spoke, saying, “We wish that we had died when our brothers died before the LORD! 4Why have you brought the LORD’s assembly into this wilderness, that we should die there, we and our animals? 5Why have you made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in to 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.”

When Israel comes to a place with no water, the people do not turn to God in their need; they turn on Moses and Aaron, quarreling and blaming. Why have you brought us into this wilderness, they cry, to die here? Why did you make us come up out of Egypt to this evil place? Faced with a real need, they respond not by seeking God, who had provided for them again and again, but by quarreling with their leaders and blaming them, complaining bitterly. Their instinct in hardship was to blame, not to turn to God.

Notice the people's response to hardship: quarreling and blame, rather than turning to God. They had a genuine need, no water; but instead of turning to God, who had provided water before and could again, they quarreled with Moses and Aaron, blaming them, accusing them of bringing them to this evil place. Their instinct was to find someone to blame, to quarrel and complain, rather than to bring their need to God. They did not seek God in their hardship; they turned on their leaders and grumbled.

That instinct is worth taking to heart, for in our own hardships, we can be quick to quarrel and blame rather than turn to God. When we face a need or difficulty, our instinct can be to find someone to blame, to complain, to quarrel with those around us, rather than to bring our need to God, who can help; but this was Israel's instinct, and it was not the way of faith. When you face hardship, do not turn first to quarreling and blame, finding fault with those around you; turn to God, bringing your need to him who can provide, as Israel should have turned to the God who had given them water before. Let your instinct in hardship be to seek God rather than to blame others; bring your need to him, who can help, rather than quarreling and complaining, as Israel quarreled with Moses instead of turning to the God who had provided for them again and again.

Lord, when Israel comes to a place with no water, the people do not turn to you in their need; they turn on Moses and Aaron, quarreling and blaming. Why have you brought us into this wilderness, they cry, to die here? Faced with a real need, they respond not by seeking you, who had provided for them again and again, but by quarreling with their leaders and blaming them. Their instinct in hardship was to blame, not to turn to you. Show me the people's response to hardship: quarreling and blame, rather than turning to you. They had a genuine need; but instead of turning to you, who had provided water before and could again, they quarreled with Moses and Aaron, blaming them. Their instinct was to find someone to blame, rather than to bring their need to you. They did not seek you in their hardship; they turned on their leaders and grumbled. Take that instinct to my heart, for in my own hardships, I can be quick to quarrel and blame rather than turn to you. When I face a need or difficulty, my instinct can be to find someone to blame, to complain, to quarrel with those around me, rather than to bring my need to you, who can help; but this was Israel's instinct, and it was not the way of faith. When I face hardship, keep me from turning first to quarreling and blame; help me turn to you, bringing my need to you who can provide, Lord. Let my instinct in hardship be to seek you rather than to blame others.