It’s a question that echoes through the story of Moses and the waters of Mei Meriva – the waters of dispute.
"These are the waters of dispute, where the children of Israel quarreled with the Lord, and He was sanctified through them," Numbers 20:13 tells us. But what exactly does that mean? Bamidbar Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Numbers, digs deeper into this pivotal moment.
The text immediately points out: "‘These are the waters of dispute’ – from here you learn that from ancient times it was determined that Moses would be punished due to water." It's as if this incident wasn't just a random event, but a culmination of a long-foretold destiny.
But where did this destiny begin? Bamidbar Rabbah cleverly directs our attention to a verse in Genesis 14:7: “They turned back, and came to Ein Mishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote the entire field of the Amalekites, as well as the Emorites, who lived in Ḥatzetzon Tamar.” Ein Mishpat. It translates to "the spring of judgment." And according to this Midrash, it's "the spring of the judgment of Moses." Long before the incident at Mei Meriva, a connection between Moses and water, and judgment, was already established. It suggests a pattern, a recurring theme in his life.
Bamidbar Rabbah then offers a powerful analogy. Imagine a king whose son is blinded by a stone. From that day forward, every time the king sees a stone, he cries out, "This is the one that blinded my son's eye!"
"That is why it is stated: 'These are the waters of dispute,'" the text explains. It’s an expression of sorrow, a constant reminder of a painful event. It's like the king's lament over the stone – a tangible symbol of loss and regret.
The waters of Mei Meriva, therefore, aren’t just about thirst or rebellion. They represent something far deeper: a moment of profound disappointment and consequence. A moment when even the greatest of leaders, Moses, stumbled. It wasn't just the water itself, but what the water represented: a missed opportunity for sanctification and a heavy price to pay.
The story invites us to reflect on our own lives. Are there "waters of dispute" that we carry with us? Moments that define our regrets, our missed opportunities? And how can we learn from those moments, not to be defined by them, but to grow and to sanctify God's name, even in our imperfections? The story of Moses and the waters reminds us that even in our failures, there's an opportunity for reflection, for growth, and ultimately, for a deeper understanding of ourselves and our relationship with the Divine.