Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that a great amount of water gushed out, and the congregation and their livestock were able to drink.Moses lifted up his hand, and struck the rock with his rod twice, and water came out abundantly. The congregation and their livestock drank.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.And Moses lifted up his hand, and smote the rock with his rod twice: and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their cattle.
3 sermons cite this verse
… that we often skip over the incident in Numbers chapter 20 verses 1 through 13 when the Israelites were complaining about not having any water and the Lord told Moses to speak to the rock so water would come out of it. But instead of speaking to the rock, Moses struck it twice with his staff. And from that infraction, the Lord said, because you didn't trust in me, you are not going into the promised land. Wait one cotton-picking minute. That's what Moses said, not me. I brought these ingrates through 10 plagues. I crossed the Red Sea. I watched my own sister turn into a leper. I traveled through the desert 40 years when it should have just taken me 11 days. And now because of one hiccup, I can't get a passport. Lord, you got to extend some grace because I used to hit people. and this time I didn't hit nobody, I just hit a rock, and you saying because of that I can't get into my promise, and Yahweh replied, after I delivered you from all the plagues, got you out of the Nile River, healed your sister didn't let you die in the desert how did you still doubt me? …
… and the Lord spake to Moses gather the assembly thou and Aaron speak to the rock and it shall give forth water. Well, they gathered the assembly and Moses lifted up his hand and with his rod, he smote the rock twice and water came out abundantly. End of the chapter, the Lord spake to Moses, Aaron will not enter the land because both of you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah. It's like both? We just read the chapter. Aaron did not say a word the entire chapter. It's like, yeah, that's just it. He was at the door of the tabernacle. He heard God tell Moses, speak to the rock. When Moses lifted up the rod the first time and hit the rock, it probably took Aaron by surprise. When Moses lifted up the rod the second time, Aaron knew what was coming and he did not protest. He was silent. And in that instant, Aaron was guilty. Moses' was a sin of commission. Aaron's was a sin of omission. Leviticus 5, a person sins because he did not speak up, even though he was an eyewitness to a case or knew what happened. Anyone who failed to testify is guilty. Martin Luther King Jr., he who accepts evil without protesting it, is really cooperating with it. Here's a verse you have memorized. Leviticus 19.18, love your neighbor as yourself. …
… Listen, you rebels. Must we bring you water out of this rock? Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. 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 have given them. These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the Lord and where he was proved holy among them. I want to hang out in verse number 12 where the Lord says to Moses and to 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. I want to talk a little bit today about crime and punishment. Crime and punishment. By now, I think we are all familiar with the events, the story, and the testimony of our sister, Sha'Carri Richardson. …