This is the water of Meribah— So called from chiding or strife; and in Deuteronomy 32:51 distinguished from the other Meribah at Horeb, by the name of Meribah Kadesh. Here God was sanctified in them; i.e. glorified his power, goodness, and truth, in the eyes of the Israelites, by this signal miracle, and demonstrated his holiness and impartial justice, by punishing his greatest favourites for their incredulity.
REFLECTIONS.—Their years of wandering are now drawing to an end. The former generation being nearly consumed, the people once more see their faces toward the promised land, and encamp in Kadesh, near the borders of Edom, where we have,
1. Miriam's death. Though forgiven her murmuring, at Moses's intercession, she is excluded Canaan. Note; We may, for our sins, be corrected with temporal afflictions, though God has forgiven them, and saved us from eternal death. 2. The murmuring of the people for want of water. Note; (1.) It is too common for children to imitate their fathers' bad examples. (2.) They who cannot put up with inconveniences in their journey to Heaven, must never think of going thither. Never was greater unthankfulness and perverseness seen than in this people: instead of being affected with God's mercy in sparing them, they wish to have died with their brethren by the plague; and quarrel with Moses for having brought them from Egypt, though such an iron furnace, because of a present difficulty, which, by past experience, they might be assured God could easily remove. Note; They who seek occasion to quarrel will find fault with the best services done them, and reproach with ill intentions the friends to whom they have been most obliged. 3. Moses and Aaron fly to the sanctuary, and on their faces fall down, lest new judgments should overtake the people, and to beg direction how to act in the present emergency. Note; In all troubles, approach to God is the surest means for direction and relief. 4. God appears, not as before, in anger to destroy them, but in mercy to supply them. Note; If God were strict to visit for all our offences, the Spirit would fail before him. He often thinketh upon mercy when we deserve punishment. Moses is ordered to take the rod of God, and, in the presence of all the people, to speak to the rock, and the streams shall immediately flow. Behold, (1.) The rich grace of God to rebellious people. (2.) The power of God magnified in such a miracle. Are our hearts hard as this rock? The word of God can cleave them, and open sluices of penitential tears. 5. Moses and Aaron obey; but in such a manner as displeased their Master, and brought upon them exclusion from the land to which they were conducting the people. They were guilty of two great sins in this matter: (1.) Unbelief. They doubted whether God would really bring water from the rock for such a people. Note; No sin among God's people is more besetting, or more dangerous, than unbelief. (2.) Passion. They were out of patience with them, angrily abuse them as rebels, and, instead of calmly commanding the water to flow, Moses with repeated vehemence smites the rock; and as Israel were spectators of this hasty conduct, the offence was the greater. Note; (1.) Great provocations are no excuse for passion. (2.) The meekest men need watch over a self-willed spirit. (3.) If anger kindle in our heart, the more cause have we to keep our lips, as it were, with a bridle. (4.) That reproach may be very just, which in our mouth, as flowing from an enraged heart, may to us be exceeding evil. 6. God's displeasure at Moses and Aaron; and their punishment is to die in the wilderness. Note; (1.) God's own people must not think they shall sin with impunity. No; God, as he expects more from them, will often correct them more severely than others. (2.) The record Moses bears against himself is a proof of his impartiality, and a gracious token of his humiliation under his offence. 7. The place is called Meribah, like that other where they murmured and strove with God before. It is good to remark the place and spot where our sins have been committed, that we may, whenever we pass by, look, and be confounded on the remembrance of them.