Brian Maloy

First thing, be sure to read it if you have not — HERE.

Next thing, I love context… so here is some context from LAST Week, in Numbers 14, over to 20 this week:

Context

Context is helpful when we pop from Ch. 14 all the way over to Ch. 20. So in brief, here is what we missed (though reading it is certainly best).

Numbers 14:25–45 — Aftermath of Rebellion

• God commands Israel to turn back toward the wilderness, away from Canaan (14:25).
• He pronounces judgment: the current generation (20+) will die in the wilderness (14:26–35).
• The ten fearful spies die by plague; only Joshua and Caleb are spared (14:36–38).
• The people attempt a self-directed invasion of Canaan, ignoring God’s warning, and are defeated (14:39–45).

Numbers 15 — Offerings and Atonement

• Laws for grain, drink, and burnt offerings once in the Promised Land (15:1–16).
• Instructions for offerings for unintentional sins (15:22–29).
• Deliberate sin is treated severely; example of a Sabbath-breaker stoned (15:30–36).
• Tassels on garments instituted as a visual reminder to obey God’s commands (15:37–41).

Numbers 16 — Korah’s Rebellion

• Korah, Dathan, and Abiram lead a rebellion against Moses and Aaron (16:1–19).
• God judges the rebels: the earth swallows them, and fire consumes 250 men offering incense (16:20–35).
• The censers of the dead are hammered into a covering for the altar as a warning (16:36–40).
• The people grumble again; a plague breaks out, but Aaron intercedes with incense and stops it (16:41–50).

Numbers 17 — Aaron’s Staff Buds

• God confirms Aaron’s priesthood: his staff miraculously buds, blossoms, and bears almonds (17:1–11).
• The staff is kept as a sign to prevent further rebellion (17:10).
• The people express fear of dying due to God’s holiness (17:12–13).

Numbers 18 –Duties and Provisions for Priests and Levites

• God outlines responsibilities of priests and Levites regarding the Tabernacle (18:1–7).
• Priests receive offerings and tithes as their inheritance; Levites receive the tithe from Israel (18:8–32).
• Levites must tithe from what they receive, ensuring a cycle of provision and accountability.

Numbers 19 –The Red Heifer and Purification

• Instructions for the red heifer sacrifice to produce water of purification (19:1–10).
• Used for cleansing those defiled by contact with the dead (19:11–22).
• Emphasizes the seriousness of ritual purity and the need for ongoing cleansing.

Then to Chapter 20!

Sometimes looking at the whole narrative arc of a passage is helpful before digging in. I think here, it helps me understand it better in context of the greater story of the period of Wilderness for the Hebrews, and in the overall arc of scripture. 

Numbers 20:1–13 is a pivot moment in Israel’s wilderness journey, full of grief, frustration, disobedience, and divine consequence. Here’s are some key movements, kind of broken down in a manner we learned in Hermeneutics Class.

Opening: Death and Desert Hardship

• Miriam dies in Kadesh (v.1), signaling the beginning of the end for the first generation.
• The people face no water, sparking another wave of complaints against Moses and Aaron (v.2–5).

Rising Tension: Grumbling and Despair

• The Israelites lament their fate, wishing they had died earlier.
• They accuse Moses of poor leadership and question God’s provision.

Divine Instruction: A Peaceful Solution Offered

• God tells Moses to speak to the rock to bring forth water (v.6–8).
• This command emphasizes trust, obedience, and God’s gracious provision.

Climax: Moses’ Disobedience and Anger

• Moses, frustrated, strikes the rock twice instead of speaking to it (v.9–11).
• He also speaks harshly to the people — “Listen, you rebels!” — suggesting personal frustration over divine patience.

Resolution: Judgment and Consequence

• God declares that Moses and Aaron will not enter the Promised Land (v.12).
• Their failure to uphold God’s holiness before the people leads to lasting consequence.

Closing: Waters of Meribah

• The place is named Meribah (“quarreling”), memorializing the people’s strife and the leaders’ failure (v.13).

The Good ‘Ol Days

The Israelites REALLY struggle with living in the past… despite being given the best of hopes and future, they cannot let go of their perceived “good ‘ol days” — despite those days being slavery and bondage… 

But we sometimes fall into this trap too — why do you think that is?

Psychological Roots: Why Our Minds Drift Back

• Selective memory: We tend to filter out pain and complexity, remembering only the comfort or simplicity of past seasons.
• Certainty bias: The past feels “known,” while the present and future are filled with ambiguity. We crave the security of what’s already happened.
• Emotional anchoring: Moments of joy, safety, or identity formation in the past become emotional anchors, especially during stress or transition.

Biblical Parallels: Echoes from the Wilderness

• Numbers 11 & 20: The Hebrews longed for Egypt’s food and predictability—even though it was a place of slavery. Their nostalgia distorted reality.
• Psalm 106:7: “They did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love…” Forgetfulness of God’s provision leads to romanticizing bondage.
• Luke 9:62: Jesus warns, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom.” The call forward requires trust, not retreat.

Theological Insight: What’s Beneath the Longing

• Discomfort with dependence: The wilderness demands daily trust. Egypt offered predictability, even if it was oppressive.
• Resistance to transformation: Sanctification is slow and painful. Looking back is often a way to avoid the sometimes painful refining fire of growth.
• Misplaced identity: When we forget who we are in Christ, we reach for old identities that felt more tangible, even if they were enslaving.

Practical Ideas for Hard Times

We know, and scripture teaches us, that hard times are certain for us all. There really is no escaping it. While it looks different for everyone, and comes at different times, it comes for us regardless. So practically speaking, those of us who follow Jesus have to mentally and spiritually prepare our hearts and minds for what is certain to come. 

I personally believe this is something all believers must seek the Lord about, we are all tempted in different ways, we have different lived experiences, different struggles, and different doubts. Seeking the wisdom of the Holy Spirit is the best way we can see the gaps and opportunities for dear and doubt to enter in, and cause us to question God’s goodness and faithfulness. That said…. I do think there are some general things we believers can do to prepare and make sure our circumstances don’t leave us doubting Yahweh. Spoiler, there are many I’ve said before in previous lessons… sometimes the simple things are simple because they are true. 

Practical “Ideas”:

1. Learn Daily Dependence (Matt. 6:11, Pr. 3:5–6, Jn. 15:5)
2. Dwell in Scripture (Ps. 119:105, Col. 3:16, Matt. 4:4)
3. Take every thought captive, train your mind (2 Cor. 10:5, Rom. 12:2, Col. 3:2)
4. Build Biblical Community, honest and real (Gal. 6:2, Jas. 5:16, 1 Thess. 5:11)
5. Practice Sabbath and Rest (Ex. 34:21, Matt. 11:28, Ps. 46:10)
6. Worship in the Waiting (Ps. 34:1, Hab. 3:17–18, Acts 16:25)
7. Record God’s Faithfulness for dry seasons (1 Sam. 7:12, Ps. 105:5, Hab. 2:2)
8. Seek the Holy Spirit — ask for discernment (Jas. 1:5, Jn. 16:13, Gal. 5:16)
9. Remember our true identity, in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17, 1 Pet. 2:9, 1 Jn. 3:1)

Facedown to the Lord

Often in the difficulties, we do get to a place where we are at the “end of our ropes”, worn down, seemingly at a dead end. In my life, this often leads me right to the Lord.

In the case of Moses and Aaron, they are quite literally on their faces before the presence of the Lord, Yahweh. They are at a loss to handle this situation on their own. GOOD. Like them, we try too often to take situations into our own ability, and fail splendidly. Every time, it reminds me that that’s exactly where the Lord can use me, where surrender can happen. I cannot do it on my own, and I’ve been reminded of that truth, yet again.

Nevertheless, think about the times that has happened in your life? Think about the times that you’ve been truly at the end of the rope. It changes the way we approach God I believe. It opens us up in a different way, there isn’t a backup plan — there is only the Father, who loves us, and wanted us to come to Him sooner. 

So in Numbers 20:6-8. We see an awesome picture of this happening with Moses and Aaron, and they are in this moment, exactly where God wanted them — relying on, and trusting Him — not their own logic and plans. Challenge is, remaining in that position of surrender and trust. 

Numbers 20:9-13

In the end, we see two things. A God who abundantly provides for this whiney petulant people. And a man who is exasperated by the role he is playing, and the people he is leading. 

Can you relate to Moses in this moment? When our exhaustion, our frustration, our discouragement reaches a breaking point — and the grace in our heart is spent… I know I can. It always surprises me, and then embarrasses and upsets me. Never you mind, in the end — I am like Moses in this regard. I have relied on my own strength, I have worn thin, and it shows — ugly and disappointing. 

Why then do we take matters into our own hands so much?! Why do we fail to trust the God who is there? 

Wrap Up

There is much to be gleaned from these 13 verses, and I wish I could wrap it ALL up in a nice bow, but it will absolutely be from my perspective. The glaring question I am left with in the end of this passage is this:

“When pressure and disappointment mount, how do I respond — and what does that reveal about how I represent God’s character to others?”
Numbers 20:12; James 1:2–4; 2 Corinthians 4:8–10

What a hard question, not because it’s complicated, but because we are human, and it’s hard to be honest, evaluate our wins and losses — and likely embarrassing (Romans 7:18–25; Hebrews 4:12–13 ). BUT, there is grace upon grace (John 1:16). His mercies are new every morning — because GREAT is His faithfulness (Lam 3:22–23). We are not subject to the brokenness of yesterday, and when we step out of the shadows, turn from the darkness, and stumble forward (Ephesians 5:8–14; Philippians 3:13–14; Psalm 37:23–24) — we show a hurting world of the goodness and faithfulness of a God who is with us, and a God who loves us — and is STILL working to draw us near to Himself (Romans 8:38–39; Psalm 145:8–9; Philippians 1:6; James 4:8). 

Praise the Lord.