Where Are Your Eyes Looking? -Conclusion of A FAITHFUL MAN LOST A PRIVILEGE

However, what happened in a similar situation about 40 years later?  The Israelites were almost at the end of their journey through the wilderness.  They arrived at a place near Kadesh, close to the border of the Promised Land.  This place also became known as Maribah. Why? Because the Israelites complained again that there was no water.  (Numbers 20:1-5)  But this time, Moses made a serious mistake.

What did Moses do when the people rebelled? Again, he looked to Jehovah for direction. But this time Jehovah did not tell Moses to hit the rock. He  told Moses to take his rod, bring the people near the rock, and then  speak to the rock.  (Numbers 20:6-8) Did Moses do that? No.  He was so frustrated and angry that he shouted at the people: "Hear now you rebels! Must we bring water for you from this crag? Then he hit the crag, or rock, not just once, but twice. - NUMBERS 20:10, 11.

Jehovah became very angry with Moses.  (Deuteronomy 1:37; 3:26) Why did Jehovah react in that way?  One reason could be be that Moses did not obey the new directions Jehovah had given him.

There may be another reason why Jehovah was so angry.  The massive rocks at the first Maribah are solid granite. No matter how hard someone hits granite, no one expects that water will come out.   But the rocks at the second Maribah are very different.  Most of them are a king of rock  called limestone. Because limestone  is a softer rock, water often steeps into and collects underground.  Then the people can get this water by making a hole in the rock. So when Moses  hit the rock instead of speaking to it, could it be that the Israelites thought the water came out naturally and not because Jehovah performed a miracle? We cannot say for sure.

Next time: Where Are Your Eyes Looking?  HOW MOSES REBELLED

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