Do not imitate the generation of Moses
Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9. March 16, 2023 - Thursday, 3rd Week of Lent
The word “Massah” means “trial” or “test” and the word “Meribah” means “quarrel”. Meribah and Massah was a place where the people had no water to drink, quarrelled with Moses and put the Lord to the test. Interestingly, the incident appears at the beginning and the end of Israel’s journey through the wilderness (see Ex 17:1-7 and Num 20:1-13). In both cases, the Lord instructs Moses to draw water from a rock. Moses did so and water came out of the rock and satisfied the people’s thirst.
At the beginning of Psalm 95, the author invites us to sing to the Lord who is described as “the Rock of our salvation” (Ps 95:1). Both Jewish and Christian traditions interpret the event from a spiritual perspective. Since the rock that was the source of water appeared at the beginning and at the end of the journey of the Israelites towards the Promised Land, it had to accompany them through the entire journey. How could it be possible? For Saint Paul “the Rock was Christ” (1 Cor 10:4) and the Jewish Rabbis gave the waters hidden in the Rock the name “the well of Miriam”, the sister of Moses. But the name Miriam was also given to the Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The psalmist pleads with his generation to listen to the voice of the Lord and not to imitate their forefathers: “Oh, that today you would hear his voice” (Ps 95:7). The tragic thing about the generation of Moses is the fact that out of those who left Egypt, only two entered the promised land: Joshua and Caleb. The rest, including Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, died in the wilderness. Their constant disobedience and failure to trust the Lord prevented them from achieving the goal of their journey.
The theme of the psalm is taken up in the New Testament in the first letter to the Corinthians and the letter to the Hebrews. It is a lesson for all Christians. Through the sacrament of baptism, we have left the slavery of sin and begun our journey towards heavenly Jerusalem. During our journey, we are provided with spiritual food and spiritual drink - the sacrament of the Eucharist. Christ the Lord accompanies us and also His Blessed Mother. But, the journey is not easy and we should be on guard. Saint Paul writes: “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor 10:12).
Our Christian life is going to be filled with tests and temptations. It is unavoidable and it is necessary for the growth of our faith. But, while tested we should not imitate the generation of Moses but trust in God who is faithful. As Saint Paul writes, our God “will not let [us] be tempted beyond [our] ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, that [we] may be able to endure it” (1 Cor 10:13).