It is totally understandable at the people being concerned with there being no water, but the problem is about how they respond to the crisis (v20). They don’t respond in faith seeking God’s help but they show faithless grumbling (v3-5). What is your response to a crisis? Panic, complaining or prayer?

Moses and Aaron respond to the crisis with prayer (v6). Here we have a wonderful picture of prayer. They came to pray and God’s glory drew near. God then promises them deliverance (v7-8). Moses gathers the people and amazingly water is brought from out of a rock for the people (v9-11). We see God’s great power to deliver.

But sadly, the story has not a happy ending (v12). What is it that Moses did wrong here? The Lord had told Moses to speak to the rock for water to come out, but Moses struck the rock with the staff and said “must we bring you water out of this rock?” Moses was bringing the glory to himself and not to the Lord, that was the problem. The result of this was that Moses forfeited the privilege of leading the Israelites into the Promised Land.

This incident brings home to us how seriously God takes His glory and He will not share it with another. God alone deserves all the glory honour and praise.