All-Powerful God, you alone are holy and worthy of praise. May my words and actions this day demonstrate my love, honor, and respect for you. Amen.

Numbers 20:1-13 (Good News Translation) Come Together in Faith and Learn of God’s Mercy and Care Introduction Numbers 20:1-13: Today’s reading begins by reporting the death and burial of Miriam. The Israelites once again complain to Moses and Aaron about having no water to drink. God instructs Moses to go to a nearby rock from which water will gush out. Today’s Scripture: Numbers 20:13b The people of Israel complained against the LORD and … he showed them that he is holy. Today’s Reading 1 In the first month the whole community of Israel came to the wilderness of Zin and camped at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried. 2 There was no water where they camped, so the people gathered around Moses and Aaron 3 and complained: “It would have been better if we had died in front of the LORD's Tent along with the other Israelites. 4 Why have you brought us out into this wilderness? Just so that we can die here with our animals? 5 Why did you bring us out of Egypt into this miserable place where nothing will grow? There's no grain, no figs, no grapes, no pomegranates. There is not even any water to drink! ” 6 Moses and Aaron moved away from the people and stood at the entrance of the Tent. They bowed down with their faces to the ground, and the dazzling light of the LORD's presence appeared to them. 7 The LORD said to Moses, 8 “Take the stick that is in front of the Covenant Box, and then you and Aaron assemble the whole community. There in front of them all speak to that rock over there, and water will gush out of it. In this way you will bring water out of the rock for the people, for them and their animals to drink.” 9 Moses went and got the stick, as the LORD had commanded. 10 He and Aaron assembled the whole community in front of the rock, and Moses said, “Listen, you rebels! Do we have to get water out of this rock for you?” 11 Then Moses raised the stick and struck the rock twice with it, and a great stream of water gushed out, and all the people and animals drank. 12 But the LORD reprimanded Moses and Aaron. He said, “Because you did not have enough faith to acknowledge my holy power before the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land that I promised to give them.” 13 This happened at Meribah, where the people of Israel complained against the LORD and where he showed them that he is holy. Reflect Verse 12 indicates that the LORD reprimanded Moses and Aaron because they did not acknowledge God’s holy power. Though not clear in this story, other Bible passages describe the sin of Moses and Aaron as disobedience (Numbers 20:24; 27:14) and disrespect for God (Deuteronomy 32: 50, 51). What are your thoughts about their actions? (Refer to verse 10.) You may wish to compare today’s reading with a parallel account in Exodus 17:1-7. What differences can you identify?