At long last Israel were commanded to make their way to the promised land, but they did not go northwards, the shortest route, but they went south eastward to the Red Sea and then turned northwards to enter the land from the east by crossing the river Jordan. This meant they went round Edom, the land possessed by their cousins the descendants of Esau (also called Edom), Jacob’s brother.
×
![]()
Verses 8,11-12
Waiting for response for Numbers 20:8,11-12When the children of Israel first came into the wilderness God had provided water out of a rock when Moses struck it (Exodus 17:6)Waiting for response for Exodus 17:6 and we are told that this Rock represented Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4).Waiting for response for 1 Corinthians 10:4 Jesus was smitten and out of him, at it were, came living water (John 7:38)Waiting for response for John 7:38 and the smiting of the rock represented his being smitten as he was crucified. He was not to be smitten a second time however and therefore, on this second occasion, Moses was commanded not to smite the rock, but to speak to it. But Moses did smite the rock, breaking the type which represented Jesus, and thus he misrepresented the purpose of God in Christ. He also “spake unadvisably with his lips” (Psalm 106:33)Waiting for response for Psalm 106:33 and as a result he and Aaron where prevented from entering the promised land.