101 Myths of the Bible: how ancient scribes - Conscious Evolution TV

234 101 Myths of the Bible
of his instructions and punished both him and Aaron, declaring,“Because ye believed
me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring
this congregation into the land which I have given them” (Num. 20:12). As punishment
for their sin, both Moses and Aaron were denied entry into the Promised Land.
There are several things wrong with this story. First, if God was displeased with
their actions, why did the water come out of the rock? Only God could make that happen.
Moses could bang his rod all over the desert and not find a drop unless God
brought it forth. If the deity wanted to show his displeasure, the rock would have
remained dry until Moses did what he was told.
Second, why was Aaron punished? He didn’t do anything. After all, only Moses
struck the rock and only Moses disobeyed.
Third, and most important, Moses already had been denied entry on an earlier
occasion and not because of his sin but because of Israel’s sin. Moses had sent some
scouts out for military intelligence. They reported that the enemy was too powerful
and couldn’t be defeated. The Hebrews didn’t want to fight. But God had told the people
that they would conquer the land, and when they questioned their ability to defeat
this powerful enemy they were questioning the word of the LORD. God, therefore,
regretted bringing the Israelites out of Egypt and he wanted to destroy them.
And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how
long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?
I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a
greater nation and mightier than they. (Num. 14:11–12)
Noble Moses, however, would have none of this and he beseeched God to forgive
the people. He reminded the LORD that other nations would see that God failed to
deliver his people as he promised and they would take it as a sign of his weakness. Vanity
won out and God relented.
God’s forgiveness, however, had a price. He denied all the current generation
except Joshua and Caleb entry into the Promised Land. Not even Moses would be
allowed to cross over. As he told the congregation,“Also the LORD was angry with me
for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither” (Deut. 1:37).
He pleaded twice with God to be allowed in, but to no avail.