So Moses
took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him. He and
Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to
them, “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 give them.” Numbers
20:9-12
After
the Israelites complained about no drinking water, God told Moses to speak to a
rock and water would pour out. Moses lost
his cool, frustrated by the constant grumbling of the people. He screamed at the people and hit the rock
twice with his staff.
God
told Moses he would not enter the promised land. Leadership has to operate at high standards. They must obey and set the standards for
others.