LEADERS’ DECORUM
It is not easy to provide for
the needs of a people. In a desert environment, where even the most basic
needs, like water and food, are scarce, it becomes a real challenge. Near the
end of their forty years of wandering, the Israelites faced a severe shortage
of water (Num. 20:2). Thirsty, they gathered around their leaders, who did not
seem to understand their fears and empathize with them. Moses and Aaron did not
offer any solution or encouragement. They listened and silently retreated to
the Tent of Meeting.
There, God instructed them to
“take the staff and gather the assembly … and speak to the rock, before their
eyes, and bring water from the rock …” (Num. 20:8). God’s intention was to
impress this generation of Israelites, who were about to enter the Promised
Land, with a wondrous miracle, conducted right before their eyes. This
intention was achieved when the gathered people witnessed Moses hit the rock
with his staff and abundant water flowed out from it – an amazing miracle.
But Moses did not follow
God’s instructions in full and diminished the magnificent event in several
ways:
1.
Before conducting
the miracle, he spoke bitterly to the assembly “listen now, O rebels! Shall we
bring forth water for you from this rock?” (Num. 20:10). With these words he
not only ignored the legitimate concerns of his people but displayed
undignified contempt to them.
2.
He did not speak
to the rock, as instructed, but hit it with his staff. Did he forget the clear
instruction? Did he improvise? Did he lose faith and thought that speaking
alone will not produce water?
3.
In a show of
impatience he hit the rock twice.
For not trusting God’s
instructions, for not presenting themselves to their people in a dignified
manner and for diminishing the opportunity to sanctify God in the eyes of the
Israelites, Moses and Aaron were not allowed to lead the Jewish people into
their Promised Land. God holds our national leaders to high standards of faith,
compassion, understanding, decorum and conduct.
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more columns: http://homepages.wmich.edu/~arigurj