Water from Stone

Reading:   Numbers 20

Thirst plagued the Israelites and they began to murmur (surprise surprise) So The Lord advised Moses to go forth and illicit water from a stone.  Moses, a little upset at the childish behavior of the people, stood before the rock and, with a little attitude (remember that Moses is Mr. Meekness so this is quite a significant act coming from him)...

Numbers 20:10-12

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? 

 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.

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. 

In his moment of outrageous outburst (barely a peep), Moses accepted a portion of God's power by claiming, "...must we," as if the miracles wrought by God were also, to a degree, his doing.  This was not appropriate and I believe Moses immediately understood his error.  When it came time to perform the miracle, Moses tapped the stone twice with the rod before the water rushed forth (verse 11). Why did he tap it twice instead of once?  He had a doubt.  Because he misspoke, Moses hesitated on the miracle and a conscientious concern crept in.  The water still flowed forth but God had to make it clear that not only had Moses forgotten him but that he showed irreverent doubt as well (verse 12).

There is an important lesson to be understood here, we are the conduit, the power is God's.  Miracles are wrought through the power of God and we merely facilitate the miracle through our faith and willingness to act in God's name.

 ~Kipling