The story of the rock that gushed in the desert is an amazing panorama of the life that ancient and modern believers share.  I said believers because God looks for faith in every generation, not the useless perfect obedience that is popular in many circles.  What we take away from the story will depend on the reader’s interest, level of literacy and the pressure from their community. Moses exhibited unbelief and more when God asked him to give the sons of Israel water from a rock.

Complaint against Moses

“Why have you made us come up from Egypt, to bring us in to this wretched place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, nor is there water to drink.” (Numbers 20:5)

Moses responded uncharacteristically with little meekness and one has to wonder where his servant attitude flew off to.

and Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. And he said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?” (Numbers 20:10)

Losing control, Moses lifted struck the rock twice with his rod, instead of speaking to the rock.  Even so the rock gave up its water for the Israelites and their animals to drink (Numbers 20:11). A fundamental connection between a holy God and faith emerges, and it leads to Moses and Aaron being barred from entering Canaan.  This is a serious rebuke to the traditional appreciation of faith by adherents of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” (Numbers 20:12)

• Moses did not believe Yahweh (speak to the rock was clear enough)
• To sanctify me (treat me as holy)
• Dissed Yahweh in the sight of the sons of Israel

One incident of unbelief; one occurrence of not treating God as holy, and the two most revered leaders of the Israelites do not get to enter the promised land. God separated two Israelites from the and soared their lives to enter Canaan when Joshua led them in.  Go figure.  Two souls spared.  For Moses and Aaron no 70 times 7 forgiveness, just one slip up.