THE SECOND STRIKE

This past Thursday the first reading at mass was from the book of Numbers. The scene isone from the so-called “murmuring traditions.“\

 The Israelites are out in the desert, and they have run out of water. So they turn against Moses and Aaron, asking why Moses had brought them out of Egypt into this wilderness to die of thirst. In response, Moses and Aaron go to the Tent of Meeting where they present the problem to the Lord. 

The Lord tells them to assemble all the people so that they will see that the Lord can indeed provide water for them in the desert. After everyone is assembled, and the Lord assures them that he will produce water for them, he tells Moses to strike this big rock.

Chapter 20 verse 11 tells us what happens next.  Moses strikes the rock twice and water immediately gushes forth in torrents. Then in the next verse, the Lord says to Moses and Aaron, “Because you were not faithful to me in showing forth my sanctity before the children of Israel, you shall not lead this community into the land I will give them.”

What just happened? What provoked God‘s wrath against Moses and Aaron? Scholars have various explanations, but the one I have always preferred is this: Moses made a mistake by striking the rock a second time. When he strikes the rock he is following the Lord‘s command, and this one blow will be sufficient to work the miracle. But then Moses strikes the rock the second time, adding his own effort to God‘s power just to be sure. It is as if he doesn’t trust that God can really pull this off on his own. So the Lord complains “You did not have confidence in me!”

How often am I tempted to strike the rock twice myself? Do I always manage to trust God‘s power implicitly, with all my heart? “Just trust me, Albert, I will take care of it. You can stop striking that rock now, I’ll take care of everything! Or don't you have confidence in me?”

Too often, though, if you were to watch me carefully, you might catch me standing at this big rock and striking it over and over and over with a heavy stick. In the background, you will see the Lord smiling patiently, watching as I exhaust myself instead of asking the Lord to help. 

The next time you start to lose confidence in the Lord's power, think of Moses and that fateful second strike on the rock,