Living with Ourselves

Where can you find water in the desert? . In Exodus, Chapter 17, after our nation experienced the miracle of the splitting of Red Sea they were traveling in the desert and did not have water to drink. At that time G-d commanded Moses to smite a certain rock. Upon being smitten a river of water gushed out.

Afterwards, throughout the 40 years of wandering, there was a miraculous well of water which accompanied them throughout their journeys.. This well was in the merit of Miriam, Moses' sister.

What happened after Miriam passed away? . In this week's Torah reading, in Numbers chapter 20:1, we read about the death of Miriam. Since the well of water was in her merit, it vanished after she passed away. Immediately there was an understandable concern about what everyone will drink. There were those who, as the Torah says, argued with Moses and said some harsh words.

Another proof of the truth of the Torah . This time, though, G-d did not command Moses to smite a rock. This time G-d commanded Moses to speak to a certain rock in front of the whole nation. The rock was then supposed to pour forth water upon being spoken to. Now we are faced with one of the harder parts of the Torah to understand, but a part which shows the truth of the Torah.

Only in the Torah, which is truly the words of G_D, will you find a criticism of such a great man, who is the leader and miracle worker. The Torah is not afraid to admit, and openly state, the truth about even the greatest of men. True we need to study and understand every instance of criticism based on whom is being discussed, which is not always an easy task to understand like here. Still, that did not deter the Torah from mentioning the issue and criticism.

While other false religions are careful not to make their leaders or miracle workers seem to have done anything but perfect super human acts.

Moses hit the rock instead of speaking to it . In Numbers, 20:7, Moses gathered the nation around the stone and firstly rebuked the nation. Moses called out to them, "Listen now you rebels. I will bring out water from this rock." Instead of speaking to the rock though, the verse relates that Moses lifted up his hand, hit the rock twice, and then out came the water.

Why didn't Moses speak to the rock as he was commanded? G-d then told Moses, "Because you did not sanctify me in front of the nation by speaking to the rock, you cannot enter the land of Israel." This was a punishment, and we are still living with its aftereffects until today. If Moses would have entered that would have been the beginning of the days of the Messiah, and we would not have had to undergo these thousands of years of torture and persecution.

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