Numbers 20

Moses sins and hits the rock to get water


It was the 1st month of Year 40. The Israelites traveled. They went in the desert called Zin. They stayed in the place called Kadesh.  Moses' sister Miriam died. They buried Miriam in this place.
[1] Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.


There was no water, and the people complained about Moses and Aaron. 
[2] And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.


The people talked badly to Moses. They said they wished they had died earlier.  
[3] And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!


They asked Moses why he took them out of Egypt. They asked why they came to this area. They said they would die there, and their cows would die there, too. They said this area was evil and bad. There was no water there. There were no plants growing like figs, grapes, or pomegranates (a fruit).
[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.


Moses and Aaron left the people and went to the tabernacle door. They fell down and prayed. Then they saw God's bright light. God talked to Moses.  God gave Moses a rod (stick).  He told Moses to bring everyone together.  Aaron should come, too.  God told Moses to talk to the rock. He should tell the rock to make water come out.  Then all of the people and animals can drink the water.
[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.


Moses took the rod.  He and Aaron called all of the people to come together. They stood by the rock.  Moses told the people they were rebels (people who fight against their leaders).  Moses said he and Aaron would get water for them. The water would come out of the rock. But Moses said they didn't deserve the miracle water because they complained too much.
[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?


Moses hit the rock 2 times with the stick. Water came out of the rock.  All of the people and all of the animals drank the water. 
[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.


But God was angry at Moses and Aaron. God told Moses to talk to the rock and make the water come out. Then the Israelites would see God's great power. But Moses did not do that. He did not believe God enough. He hit the rock with the stick.  If Moses had talked to the rock only, the Israelites would have seen God's power better. God said that Moses and Aaron would be punished. They would not be allowed to go into Canaan with the other Israelites.  
[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.


God said the name of this water place was Meribah.  Meribah means "complaining". God showed His power here at Meribah.
[13] This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.