Beating the Rock (Numbers 20:2-12)
He responded in kind, chiding the children of Israel, “ . . . must we fetch you water out of this
rock?” And he smote the rock, twice for emphasis!
It was not necessary. God had directed him to speak to the rock. Nothing else was required.
Speaking to the rock would be a teaching for the people.
They would hear and see and know
how they could handle problems to come. Moses’ action was confusing at best – taunt the
people, beat the rock? Would this be the pattern to follow? It would surely result in useless
demonstrations --->
knowing that they needed a demonstration of power, he shouted
and slapped the pulpit.
By striking the rock Moses had demonstrated his power with God, not God’s power that is
available to all. By not speaking to the rock Moses had first, not demonstrated how we are to
resolve problems; by speaking to the problem as directed by God; and secondly, he had
disobeyed God. The first non-act would prove to be very consequential for us. Both non-actions
were consequential for him, and he received a prophet’s reward
, seeing the promise but not
entering in. But God remained God and sent water out abundantly
even though the intended
lesson was lost.
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Numbers 20:2-12
(KJV) And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves
together against Moses and against Aaron. {3} And the people chided with Moses,
and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the
LORD! {4} And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this
wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there? {5} And wherefore have ye
made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no
place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any
water to drink. {6} And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly
unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their
faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them. {7} And the LORD spake unto
Moses, saying, {8} Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou,
and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it
shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the
rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. {9} And Moses
took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him. {10} And Moses and Aaron
gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear
now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? {11} And Moses lifted
up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out
abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. {12} And the LORD
spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the
eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation
into the land which I have given them.
Matthew 10:41 (KJV) He that receiveth a
prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that
receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a
righteous man's reward.
d.
