Aaron Implicated With Moses' Disobedience (Numbers 20)

 

I Just read Numbers 20. It is a very very sad chapter. Miriam and Aaron died, Moses was prohibited from going into the promise land. The people rebelled again, and didn’t learn the lessons of their fathers. But what was saddest for me is that God hold Aaron accountable for what Moses did.

The short story was that Moses strike the rock twice, when God told him to speak to it so that water will come out (v8, v11). 1 Cor 10:4 said that the rock symbolizes Christ, and he only need to be “strike” once only, when he completed the redemption work at his crucifixion and resurrection. And this already happen in Exodus 17:6, where Moses strike the rock as God told him to do so. So now, all we need to do is speak to Jesus and ask for the Holy Spirit (symbolized by the water pouring out from the rock). However, Moses ruined God's purpose to demonstrate the redemption plan.

But Moses makes things worse when he spoke harshly to the people: “Listen, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” (v10b). This doesn’t represent God at all. In v8, God did not show any anger at the people. He showed grace and mercy, just like what Jesus gave us. That’s why God said they failed to “uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people…” (v12).

As I said earlier, the saddest thing is that Aaron got implicated in this disobedience. In v24-29, God told Moses to bring Aaron up to Mt. Hor, so that he can die there, because “you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah.”  His priestly garment was removed and given to his son. But the actual story is that Moses was the one who acted out the disobedience. So why is Aaron also blamed for it? I believe it’s because Aaron did not stop Moses, and neither did he tell Moses what he did was wrong. His silence or lack of correction in that moment was seen as a failure of priestly duty.

Read v24-29 and see if it is very sad to you, as it is to me.