Reckoning with the Rock

Hukat 5776/16 July 2016

I’d like to study with you the episode in today’s Parasha, of Moses’ hitting the rock and God’s pronouncement that Moses and Aaron would not enter Canaan, and to explore an understanding of these events which may be different from the traditional one.

Most of us were taught that because Moses hit the rock with his staff, instead of speaking to it, he was punished by not being allowed to enter Canaan.

My question today……  Is hitting the rock with his staff instead of speaking to it, the reason for his not crossing into Canaan? First, let’s review some events showing the importance of the staff.

At the burning bush God said, “What is that in your hand?” Moses replied, “It‘s my staff.” “Throw it on the ground.” He threw it on the ground and it became a snake.

In front of Pharaoh, Aaron threw down his staff and it became a serpent which swallowed the staffs of Pharaoh’s magicians.

Many times either Aaron or Moses stretched out his arm, lifted his staff and…………..

the Nile turned to blood; frogs covered the land; the dust of the earth turned to lice. Other plagues were brought when the staff was lifted. The Red Sea was split and the Israelites went into the sea on dry ground.

And there is yet another event in which the staff played a crucial role.

Between the Red Sea and Sinai, the people wandered in the Wilderness of Tzin where there was no water. Then, 39 years before the events of today’s Parasha, the place was called M’rivah; a place of arguing and complaining. God told Moses, “Take some elders of Israel, take the staff with which you struck the Nile, pass before the people, strike the rock and water will come from it. Moses lifted his arm, struck the rock with his staff and water came forth.

In today’s Parasha the people again wandered in the Wilderness of Tzin to a place with no water. This time, the place was called Mei M’rivah (the waters of complaining and arguing), the same place where, 39 years earlier, Moses was told to take his staff and strike the rock. This time, as he did 39 years earlier, Moses again hit the rock with his staff, water came forth, and the pronouncement was made that Moses and Aaron would not enter the land. I ask again, is hitting the rock with his staff instead of speaking to it, the reason for Moses and Aaron not crossing into Canaan?

In today’s reading, God tells Moses first, before anything else, kach et hamateh”; take the staff”. God then continues, gather the people, “v’dibartem el haselah l’einehem”; and speak to the rock before their eyes.

Another possible translation of these words is, speak “el haselah”; “toward” or “in the direction of” the rock, l’einehem,; “which is before their eyes. “V’dibartem el haselah l’einehem”; and you should speak toward the rock which is before their eyes. This can be seen as instruction for how to set the stage to ensure that the new generation witnesses this momentous event.  Moses is to address the people with the rock between him and the people, so in addressing them, he is speaking toward the rock. And address them, he did. He said, “Listen you rebels! Shall we bring forth water for you from this rock?” He then lifted his hand; hit the rock twice with his staff, and water came forth.”

As far as I know, Moses and Aaron were never told to take their staff, as they were told here, and then to not use it. For what reason is Moses told to take the staff if he is not to hit the rock? Thirty-nine years earlier at this same place, in this same circumstance; Moses was told to take the staff and hit the rock and he did.

Remember Nadav and Avihu. In their zeal, they brought an additional offering which was not commanded. They deviated from God’s instruction by going above and beyond what was commanded. They were consumed by God’s fire for this deviation. Their behavior was not as bad as blatant disobedience to an instruction from God. If hitting the rock was flagrant disobedience to God’s specific instruction to Moses to speak to it, especially before the people, would not God have immediately acted against him?

If God had indeed changed the instruction from “Hit the rock” to “Speak to the rock”, would He not have alerted Moses to the new instruction and warned him to be careful to follow it to the letter; no deviations by going above and beyond and certainly not by flagrant disobedience.

I believe there is strong support, then, for translating “V’dibartem el haselah l’einehem” as “Speak in the direction of the rock which is in front of them” and that Moshe would again hit the rock was understood.

If an offense by hitting the rock had been committed in today’s reading, and not entering Canaan is seen as punishment for that offense, why is Aaron punished? He did not hit the rock! There may be a reason, other than hitting the rock, which led to God’s recognition that neither of them would any longer be able to lead the people into the Promised Land.

The text in Hukat does not say that they will not enter Canaan because Moses hit the rock. It does say that they will not enter Canaan because Moses and Aaron did not have enough trust in God to affirm his sanctity before the people. Let’s explore what that may mean.

The first time that the Torah made clear that Moses and Aaron would not enter Canaan occurred before Moses ever saw that rock a second time.

We read that 12 spies returned to the camp. Ten said: “We cannot conquer the land.” The people were disheartened: “Why is God taking us to a land where we will die by the sword?” They again rebelled. They were ready to stone Moses, and Joshua and Caleb, the two spies who encouraged the people that with God’s help they would conquer the land.

 

In response to the people’s lack of faith, God proclaimed that none from the generation who left Egypt would enter the Promised Land except Joshua and Caleb. Moses and Aaron were not included with Joshua and Caleb to enter the land. It was recognized then, before Moses ever hit the rock the second time at Mei M’rivah, that they would not enter Canaan.

But what behaviors of Moses and Aaron led to God’s understanding that they would not enter Canaan?  How did Moses and Aaron “not have enough trust in God to affirm his sanctity before the people”?

In the face of the people’s complaints, Moses and Aaron fell on their faces and did not know what to do or say. Indeed, they said nothing. But Joshua and Caleb had trust in God’s promise and affirmed his sanctity before the people when they addressed the people: “It is a good land flowing with milk and honey. The Lord will bring us to the land and give it to us. Only you must not rebel against the Lord.” Compare their address with that of Moses in today’s Parasha: “Listen you rebels! Shall we bring forth water for you from this rock?”

Moses and Aaron, after these 40 years, drained of strength, lacking in patience, overwhelmed by the dismay and rebelliousness of the people did not encourage them to keep faith with God and in His promise. They no longer had the resources to “affirm the sanctity of God before the people.”

In today’s Parasha, the second time at M’rivah, the people again complained: “Why did you make us leave Egypt and bring us to this wretched place where there is no water?” Moses and Aaron retreated and went to the Tent of Meeting. Again, as when the people rebelled after hearing the report of the spies, Moses and Aaron fell on their faces and did not encourage the people to have faith in God and in His promise. They were told that they would not lead the people into Canaan.

Is this a punishment? I think not. I understand the statement “you will not lead this congregation into the land that I have given them” as God’s recognition that Moses and Aaron are exhausted, impatient, and no longer able to lead the people; that it is time for them to let go.

Some weeks ago we read, that only in the second year of wandering, Moses pleaded with God, “I cannot carry this people. It is too much for me. If this is how you treat me, kill me, I beg you, so that I will no longer witness my own wretchedness.”

And now, in the 40^th year, Moses and God recognize and accept that it is time for Moses to let go and to transfer the mantle of leadership.

In the Book of Deuteronomy when Moses recounts the events at Mei M’rivah, he includes that he entreated God to let him cross over the Jordan and see the good land, but that God replied, “Rav lach.” (Dvarim 3:26). You have had enough! Do not speak again of this to me. Go up to the mountain, look well at the Promised Land and imbue Joshua with the strength and courage he will need to lead this people.”

Moses understood and accepted that it was time for him to let go. In a later speech in Deuteronomy, he tells the people, “Lo uchal od latzet v’lavo” (Dvarim:31:2) I can no longer go out and come in, meaning, “I can no longer do that which is needed to lead the people.”

This is the Torah showing us that Moses is only human with the frailties and flaws which we all have; a human being whose accomplishments are monumental, whose strength has now been depleted. Given the picture revealed from Exodus through Deuteronomy of Moses’ humility, his perseverance, and his unequalled accomplishments, some might also see this as the Torah showing us to what great heights human beings can aspire. It is the Torah teaching us that despite our frailties, we must labor to achieve the highest of goals, yet recognize and accept those times in our lives, when it is time to let go.

In the difficult period of letting go, Moses was blessed. He understood and accepted that it was time to let go. He ascended the mountain. He looked out to the east, to the north, to the south. He saw the Promised Land. He understood that the goal of all his efforts would be realized by those who would follow him.

I see this as El Rachum V’chanun, God, the compassionate; seeing Moses and understanding that it is time for Moses to let go and for Moses to see that his life’s work would bear fruit.

In Pirkei Avot, we read that Rahbee Tarfon also understood that there will be times in our lives when we must let go. He advised “Lo alecha ham’lacha ligmor, v’lo ata ben chorin l’hibatel mimenah”. It is not upon you to complete the work, but you are not free to desist from it”.

Tags: Hukat, Moses, Staff