The God of the Bible exhibits many characteristics that set Him apart – both from humans and from any other supposed gods. He is truth, therefore He does not lie (cf. John 14:6; 17:17). He does not change and His standards do not change, therefore He is not capricious (cf. Malachi 3:6). While the word capricious may not appear in daily conversation, when used in reference to a god or ruler, it means cruel. The word actually refers to unpredictability; a capricious person might respond favorably to an action one time, then unfavorably the next. God isn’t like that.
Some people think He is. They accuse Him of being capricious because of events like the one described in Numbers 20. The people of Israel assembled at Meribah and complained to Moses and Aaron that they had no water. In spite of all they had seen God do: providing for them, protecting them, and punishing them, the people got so upset they wished they were dead (v. 3).
Moses and Aaron consulted God in the tabernacle. Appearing in His glory, the LORD spoke to Moses and told him, “Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water” (v. 8). In Exodus 17:6, God had told Moses to strike the rock to bring forth water, but here He tells him only to speak to the rock.
In Numbers 20:11, we learn that Moses struck the rock twice instead of speaking to it as God had instructed. Even though water came forth, God punished Moses and Aaron for this action. Neither were allowed to enter the Promised Land (cf. Numbers 20:12). In our human thinking, we might consider God’s actions harsh – even capricious. But the LORD explains the reason for the punishment: “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them” (v. 12; emphasis added).
Moses and Aaron not only disobeyed, but also they did so in a manner that 1) Demonstrated a lack of faith on their part, and 2) Took God’s glory and instead elevated themselves. Earlier in Numbers, actions like this one led to instant death (14:37; 44–45)!
God is not capricious. He is merciful and just. We must take care to recognize in ourselves any attitude or mindset that says, “I know better than what God has revealed; surely He wouldn’t punish me for this.” What God has instructed us to do, we must do – no more, and no less.
Clay Leonard