1

Moses struck the rock twice

2

[Numbers 20:12]

But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,

"Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them."

3

With the amazing grace of God, the Israelites who were freed from Egypt arrived at Kadesh. Moses' sister Miriam died there. The people were sad and buried Miriam in the land.

4

There was something more difficult. It was because there was no water to drink.

Because of the lack of water, people have forgotten all the grace God has given them and began to complain.

5

They went to Moses and Aaron and excitedly spoke.

"It would have been better for us to die when our brothers died.

Why have you brought us into this wilderness? Are you going to kill us and our beasts here?"

6

"Why have you dragged us from Egypt to this terrible place?

There are no seeds here, no figs, no grapes, no pomegranates. And there is no water to drink."

The excited people complained that Moses and Aaron could not afford it.

7

Moses and Aaron left the people and went to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

And they fell on the ground. God, knowing all these things,

has appeared to Moses and Aaron.

8

The LORD spoke to Moses.

"Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together.

Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water.

You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink."

God knew Moses' cause and told him how Moses would do it.(Nm 20:8)

9

Moses took a staff in front of the LORD, as the LORD commanded.

And they called the people before the rock. The people gathered before Moses and Aaron.

10

Moses was angry when he saw the people who poured out grudge and complaint when there was a problem.

"You rebels! Listen to me. May I let the water come out of this rock for you?" Moses angrily said to the people.

11

Moses lifted up his hand and hit the rock twice with his staff.

Then a lot of water overflowed from the rock.

The water problem was solved by the people and their beasts drinking the water.

12

But Moses and Aaron had trouble! They did not do what God said.

God told Moses to "speak" to the rock.

Moses, however, failed to overcome his anger

and made a mistake of striking the rock twice with his staff.

13

Moses also did not honor God as he did his work. He did not tell the people

that God would make water from the rocks.

It was as if Moses himself had power and water from the rock.

He was angry and acted proudly to them. And Aaron did not say anything

when Moses was wrong.

14

God, who had seen Moses and Aaron wrong, told them.

"Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them."(Nm 20:12)

15

Moses and Aaron were unable to enter Canaan, where they wanted to go

because of a momentary mistake. Moses transgressed God's command

into the feelings of anger and sinned and punished for his sins.

16

The place where the people of Israel were angry with God for water, was named 'Meribah'. Though sometimes bad people grumbling against God, the love of God brought water out of the rocks and gave the people grace to drink the water.

17

Moses and Aaron, as laborers and leaders of God, had to reveal God's holiness

before the people, but could not do so. We must not forget that God is still holy even at the moment when we are angry or unjust.

We hope that the God who saved us is a holy God, and that in all circumstances

we are all friends who do not forget God and obey His command at all.

(This is the sample conclusion provided by CTM. Please feel free to change the conclusion to best suit the listeners of your sermon.)