“The people of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin,.. and stayed in Kadesh. And Miriam died there and was buried there.
“Now there was no water for the congregation. And they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. And the people quarreled with Moses and said, ‘Would that we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord! Why have you brought the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness, that we should die here..? And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink.’ Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. And the glory of the Lord appeared to them…
“Then Moses… said to them, ‘Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?’ And Moses struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank… And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, you shall not bring this assembly into the land I have given them.’
“Moses sent messengers to the king of Edom:.. ‘Please let us pass through your land…’ But he said, ‘You shall not pass through…’ [and] came out against them with a large army and strong force.
“And they journeyed… to Mount Hor… And Aaron died there on the top of the mountain…. All the house of Israel wept for Aaron thirty days…
“From Mount Hor they set out… around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way… [and] spoke against God and Moses… From there they continued to… the well of which the Lord said to Moses, ‘Gather the people together, so that I may give them water.’ Then Israel sang this song:
“‘Spring up, O well!—Sing to it!—’” Numbers 20:1-6,10-12,14,17,20,22,28-29; 21:4-5,16-17
Could Moses have endured a more trying season? Sudden sad death of his sister… then brother. In between, a constant whine of unreasonable, unanswerable complaining. God’s harsh consequence for one outburst of temper in a slammed door on the promised land. Rude rejection by Edom. God’s leader was sorely tried… and the Lord met his weight of responsibility, sorrow, and loneliness with refreshing mercy.
A season, or a day, can heap upon us an inordinate number of burdens. Emotional pain, the grind of duty, the incessant drone of criticism and negativity, physical weakness or disease, fickle commitment, harsh consequences, the hurt of rejection – it can all be too much to bear. Yet God shows up with new mercies every morning. He abides with His own. His living water springs up to cleanse and refresh, restore and heal. (Numbers 21:4-9; Lamentations 3:22-23; John 7:38)
With what are we weary and heavy-laden? Would we come to Jesus, and turn over to Him our doldrums, anxieties, impossible griefs, and sing, spring up oh well! Out of the depth of these pressing burdens comes the light of knowledge in the merciful face of Christ, and His water that gives life. (Matthew 11:28-30; 2 Corinthians 4:6)
Lord, in every burden, help me look to You and sing Your songs and give You the thanks and trust You deserve.
As the rain and snow 