Meribah

Num 20:3-13         12/2/2017

The assembly settled at Kadesh but there was no water. The people complained to Moses and Aaron. God directed them to command the rock to give water with Aaron’s rod in hand. However, enraged by the rebellious Israelites, they struck the rock with the rod instead. God rebuked Moses and Aaron and subsequently denied them the right to lead the Israelites into the promised land.

Temper tantrum.

We’re all entitled to an occasional emotional outburst. If I impose my frustration-fueled emotion on those around me, then they will know better than to frustrate me again in the future.

I think that’s the logic of rage. Or maybe it’s better understood as a strategy.

An unconscious strategy.

A strategy from our infancy. The utterly infantile.

Moses and Aaron raged against the people. Saul raged against David. The Pharisees raged against Jesus and Stephen – and killed them. The Romans raged against the Jews and destroyed the Second Temple.

Irony. What did the strategy get them? Moses was left out of the promised land. Saul lost his crown. The Pharisees lost their power and Christian discipleship flowered. The Romans exited history and Israel remains to this day.

I have no right to rage. It is never right to rage. It always injures others when I rage. It’s sin and like most sin – it is a long term losing strategy.

We, each of us, own our inner infant. To grow up, we must own our inner infant.

“A mild answer turns back wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” Psalm 15:1