Torah: Numbers 20:7-21
Reading #2 - Numbers 20:7-21
My Thoughts:
Edom is the descendant of Esau. And as we know Esau was not happy about Jacob taking his inheritance and birthright. The two groups were at odds ever since. And today we read how the Edomites will not allow Israel to pass through. Some sages do believe that they sold the Israelites some food. Regardless, it is so sad that nations that should really be “brothers” do not get along. It is a lesson to be learned for us. Do we get along with our “brothers and sisters”? It would be good to reconcile or there might be generations after you that carry the “grudge”. This could cause a lot of hurt and pain. Reconcile today!
Challenge:
I guess the message today is that if you ask someone something and they refuse, turn away and leave. Hashem will provide a different path for you. Of course, as mentioned above, it is best to reconcile and make things right from the beginning. But, if this doesn’t happen and you approach your “brother/sister” and they do not wish to help you -- go somewhere else for help. Remember to first go to Hashem. Think of the peace that could reside in our earth if people only got along. Amen.
Reading #2 - Numbers 20:7-21
7 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 8 “Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, you, and Aaron your brother, and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it pour out its water. You shall bring water to them out of the rock; so you shall give the congregation and their livestock drink.”
9 Moses took the rod from before Hashem, as He commanded him. 10 Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Shall we bring water out of this rock for you?” 11 Moses lifted up his hand, and struck the rock with his rod twice, and water came out abundantly. The congregation and their livestock drank.
12 Hashem said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you didn’t believe in Me, to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”
13 These are the waters of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with Hashem, and He was sanctified in them.
14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying:
“Your brother Israel says: You know all the travail that has happened to us; 15 how our fathers went down into Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers. 16 When we cried to Hashem, he heard our voice, sent an angel, and brought us out of Egypt. Behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the edge of your border.
17 “Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or through vineyard, neither will we drink from the water of the wells. We will go along the king’s highway. We will not turn away to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed your border.”
18 Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through me, lest I come out with the sword against you.”
19 The children of Israel said to him, “We will go up by the highway; and if we drink your water, I and my livestock, then I will give its price. Only let me, without doing anything else, pass through on my feet.”
20 He said, “You shall not pass through.” Edom came out against him with many people, and with a strong hand. 21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border, so Israel turned away from him.
