The Secret of Miriam's Rock: The Power of Faith Versus the Scoffing of Nature
Lesson No. 185 | * Thursday, Parashas Vayikra, 1 Nissan 5759 - Hachnasas Sefer Torah (Torah Scroll Dedication) at the Yeshiva
Moshe Rabbeinu searches for Miriam's rock in the desert, while the scoffers and "experts" of the generation mock him and try to explain every miracle in terms of geology and nature. Only when fire bursts forth from the rock is the spiritual root of creation exposed, revealing the true power of Moshe.
Moshe Rabbeinu engaged in awesome prayers for forty years. Everyone knew that the future savior of Israel was destined to be stricken through water. The Egyptian sorcerers knew this, and therefore they decreed, "Every son that is born, you shall cast into the river." Moshe knew that he was destined to be stricken through water, and as the Yalkut Shimoni brings down, he prayed and guarded himself for forty years in the desert not to be strict and not to stumble into anger against the Jewish people.
He knew that when the terrible test would arrive, where the entire nation would rise up against him, he would have to withstand it and not fall into anger. For it is stated, "For oppression makes a wise man mad, and a gift destroys the heart" (Koheles 7:7) – if a person stumbles into anger, he loses all his mochin (spiritual intellect and awareness).
The Disappearance of the Well and the Search for the Rock
After Miriam the Prophetess passed away on the 10th of Nissan, a terrible tragedy occurred and the rock disappeared. That wondrous rock, which used to stand opposite the Ohel Moed (Tent of Meeting) and bring forth streams of water for the entire camp, vanished as if it had never existed. Moshe and Aharon began walking and searching for a specific rock, Miriam's rock, and all of Israel followed them for an hour or two. Moshe was not willing to bring forth water from just any random rock; he was searching specifically for this particular rock.
At that moment, the scoffers of that generation arose. They wondered: That same Moshe who, with a single word, brought the Ten Plagues and split the sea, is suddenly starting to search for a specific rock? After all, if this is a geological search, we have greater experts than him! The Gemara tells of Nechunya the well-digger, who would dig wells for the Olei Regalim (pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem for the festivals) throughout the Land of Israel, and he was an expert in all types of rocks. He knew what kind of water was under each rock, whether it was cold or hot, and exactly what temperature it was, just by looking at the shape of the rock.
The Children of Israel said to Moshe: "If you are going to search for a specific rock according to the laws of nature, we are not simpletons. We have agronomists, geologists, and experts who understand rocks better. You don't need to be Moshe Rabbeinu for that!"
Moshe's Oath Against the Scoffers
The scoffers stood in groups around Moshe and mocked him: "You are a shepherd who has been in the desert for forty years. Maybe you understand digging wells, but we demand that you stop deceiving us. Either bring forth water for us from this rock that we are pointing to right now, or stop the search! If you are operating through miracles – bring forth water from here. And if by the way of nature – we are smarter than you."
At that moment, Moshe Rabbeinu swore: "Even if all of you stand and rise up against me, I will not bring forth water for you from what you are asking! I can turn the sea into dry land and a stone into water, but I will only search for the rock that Hashem told me to – Miriam's rock, which is the root of all the springs in the world, both in spirituality and in physicality."
Water, Oil, Honey, and Fire
Moshe continued his search until he reached that specific rock. The moment he reached it, the verse from Tehillim (Psalms) was fulfilled:
"He split rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink abundantly as out of the great depths."
Suddenly, all the rocks and mountains split open, and water began to flow endlessly. All those scoffers who had mocked Moshe were washed away in the mighty currents that poured from the rocks. However, there are always scoffers left in the world, for if not, free will would be nullified. Those scoffers who survived said: "If Moshe was searching for a specific rock, it must have a secret mechanism. He pressed a button that released an underground ocean of water!"
Hashem saw that they were continuing with their scoffing, and He began to bring forth rivers of oil that washed over them. The scoffers said: "Maybe two thousand years ago there were olive presses here, and the oil seeped into the ground and created an underground lake?"
Hashem responded and brought forth rivers of honey, as it is written:
"And He made him suck honey out of the crag, and oil out of the flinty rock."
This was the same rock that nursed the children of Israel in the desert. But the scoffers stuck to their ways: "Who knows, maybe there were once international beehives here, and Moshe found the patent to release the honey?"
The Yalkut Shimoni says: Hashem saw that everyone was still laughing and continuing with their scoffing, so He began to bring forth sparks of fire from the rock. Streams of fire descended upon the rivers of oil, water, and honey. Only then, when fire burst forth from the stone, was everyone forced to admit that there was no law of nature or geological patent here, but rather this was the Divine power of Moshe Rabbeinu and the spiritual power of Miriam's well.
Part 2 of 4 — Lesson No. 185