In this verse, Moses and Aaron respond with humility before the tent of meeting, and God’s presence immediately provides the direction they seek.
Then Moses and Aaron came in from the presence of the assembly to the doorway of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to them. (Numbers 20:6)
This scene unfolds while the Israelites are camped in the wilderness of Zin, near Kadesh, sometime around the mid-15th century BC. Moses, the appointed leader and prophet, and Aaron, his older brother and Israel’s first high priest, approach the doorway of the tent of meeting, the sacred place of worship and sacrifice where God’s presence was manifested among His people. Earlier chapters describe how the Levites were commissioned to care for the tent of meeting, highlighting its central role in Israel’s spiritual life (Numbers 4:46-49). Here, confronted by the congregation’s strife over the lack of water, Moses and Aaron seek divine help rather than relying on their own solutions.
By falling on their faces, Moses and Aaron demonstrate humility and dependency upon the LORD. This posture conveys their reverence, acknowledging that they can only mediate for Israel through God’s favor and direction. In response to their humble appeal, “the glory of the LORD appeared to them,” signifying that the Almighty was ready to guide them in providing water for the thirsty nation. In New Testament terms, believers today can likewise come boldly before God’s throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16) with the same reverential posture, trusting that He will guide and equip them for the challenges ahead.
God’s swift and reassuring appearance to Moses and Aaron illustrates His desire to lead His people through faithful servants who rely on His power rather than their own strength or wisdom. It underscores that the LORD is near to all who call upon Him with a heart of submission (Psalm 145:18), a theme that resonates through both the Old and New Testaments.
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Numbers 20:6 meaning
Then Moses and Aaron came in from the presence of the assembly to the doorway of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to them. (Numbers 20:6)
This scene unfolds while the Israelites are camped in the wilderness of Zin, near Kadesh, sometime around the mid-15th century BC. Moses, the appointed leader and prophet, and Aaron, his older brother and Israel’s first high priest, approach the doorway of the tent of meeting, the sacred place of worship and sacrifice where God’s presence was manifested among His people. Earlier chapters describe how the Levites were commissioned to care for the tent of meeting, highlighting its central role in Israel’s spiritual life (Numbers 4:46-49). Here, confronted by the congregation’s strife over the lack of water, Moses and Aaron seek divine help rather than relying on their own solutions.
By falling on their faces, Moses and Aaron demonstrate humility and dependency upon the LORD. This posture conveys their reverence, acknowledging that they can only mediate for Israel through God’s favor and direction. In response to their humble appeal, “the glory of the LORD appeared to them,” signifying that the Almighty was ready to guide them in providing water for the thirsty nation. In New Testament terms, believers today can likewise come boldly before God’s throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16) with the same reverential posture, trusting that He will guide and equip them for the challenges ahead.
God’s swift and reassuring appearance to Moses and Aaron illustrates His desire to lead His people through faithful servants who rely on His power rather than their own strength or wisdom. It underscores that the LORD is near to all who call upon Him with a heart of submission (Psalm 145:18), a theme that resonates through both the Old and New Testaments.