God's Judgment on Moses for Striking the Rock Twice
God's judgment on Moses for striking the rock twice, rather than speaking to it as commanded, is a significant event recorded in Numbers 20:10-13. This act of disobedience resulted in Moses and Aaron being barred from entering the Promised Land [3, 7].
The incident occurred when the Israelites, lacking water in the wilderness of Zin, complained to Moses and Aaron [3]. God instructed Moses to take his staff and "speak to the rock before their eyes, that it may yield its water" [Numbers 20:8]. However, Moses, in frustration with the rebellious people, said, "Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring you water out of this rock?" [Numbers 20:10]. He then lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, and abundant water flowed out [1].
God immediately addressed Moses and Aaron, stating, "Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them" [Numbers 20:12].
Interpretations of Moses' specific sin vary among commentators:
- Disobedience to God's specific command: Many scholars emphasize that Moses' primary sin was not following God's precise instructions. God told him to speak to the rock, but Moses struck it [3, 8]. This deviation from the command demonstrated a lack of faith in God's power to provide through a simple word [3].
- Lack of faith and sanctifying God: The Lord's statement, "Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel," is central [Numbers 20:12]. This suggests that Moses' actions failed to properly represent God's holiness and power to the people [3, 7]. By striking the rock twice, Moses may have implied that God's word alone was insufficient or that he himself was the one bringing forth the water [3]. John Gill notes that some believe Moses struck the rock twice because the first strike only produced drops, suggesting a lack of trust in God's immediate provision [6].
- Anger and speaking foolishly: Moses' outburst, "Hear now, you rebels," indicates a loss of temper and a rebuke of the people [5]. Psalm 106:32-33 states that Moses "spoke foolishly with his lips" because of the people's provocation [3]. This anger may have clouded his judgment and led to his disobedience [3].
- Doubt of God's will: Jamieson, Fausset & Brown suggest that Moses' act of striking twice betrayed a doubt, not of God's power, but of His willingness to provide for such a rebellious people [4]. This incredulity is likened to Sarah's doubt [4].
- Comparison to previous miracle: Some commentators point out that in a previous instance at Horeb, Moses was commanded to strike the rock [Exodus 17:6]. However, in Numbers 20, the command was explicitly to speak [Numbers 20:8, 16]. The change in instruction highlights the importance of precise obedience.
Abraham Ibn Ezra, a Jewish rationalist commentator, considers the possibility that Moses' sin was calling the Israelites "rebels" [5]. However, he notes that Moses used similar strong language later without punishment [5]. Ibn Ezra also discusses the interpretation that "speak" (ve-dibbartem) could be understood as "strike," but dismisses this as unlikely given the context [5].
The consequence of this disobedience was severe: Moses and Aaron were denied entry into the Promised Land [Numbers 20:12]. This judgment underscored the importance of absolute obedience and the sanctification of God's name, especially for leaders who represent Him to the people [3, 7]. Even though Moses had a close relationship with God, having received the stone tablets of the law written by God's finger [2], his failure to perfectly obey in this instance carried significant repercussions.
Sources
- Numbers “Numbers 20:11 (LEB) — Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice. And abundant water went out, and the community and their livestock drank.”
- Exodus “Exodus 31:18 (DRC) — And the Lord, when he had ended these words in Mount Sinai, gave to Moses two stone tables of testimony, written with the finger of God.”
- Numbers (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Numbers 20:10: 20:10-12 Instead of reverently obeying God’s instructions, Moses rebuked the people (Must we bring you water from this rock?) and angrily struck the rock twice with the staff (20:11). God regarded Moses’ words and actions as a serious breach of faith; Moses “spoke foolishly” (Ps 106:32-33; cp. Jas 1:20) and did not trust God enough to demonstrate his holiness. By not doing exactly as he was told, Moses demonstrated a lack of faith in God to provide for his people. This lack of faith is also apparent in Moses’ words to the people. The Lord requires obedience and ”
- Numbers (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Numbers 20:12: The Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, &c.--The act of Moses in smiting twice betrayed a doubt, not of the power, but of the will of God to gratify such a rebellious people, and his exclamation seems to have emanated from a spirit of incredulity akin to Sarai's (Gen 18:13). These circumstances indicate the influence of unbelief, and there might have been others unrecorded which led to so severe a chastisement.”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Numbers 20:8: TAKE THE ROD. Many interpretations are offered for this incident. 13 The sin of Moses and Aaron. There is an individual opinion that Moses sinned because he said to Israel, who are the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: Hear now, ye rebels (v. 10). However, if this were the case why did he again say, 14 After being punished. ye have been rebellious against the Lord (Deut. 9:7). Others say that the word ve-dibbartem (and speak ye) has the meaning, and ye shall strike. It is similar to the word va-tedabber (and destroyed) in and destroyed all the seed royal ”
- Numbers (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Numbers 20:10: And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice,.... At first it only brought out some drops, as Jarchi conjectures, and therefore Moses smote again, when it brought forth water plentifully: the Targum of Jonathan says,"at the first time it dropped blood, at the second time came out much water.''Could this be credited, it would make the agreement between this rock and Christ appear very manifest, from whom, when his side was pierced with a spear, there came out blood and water, Joh 19:34 for justification and sanctification. In what respect th”
- Numbers (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Numbers 20:12: The Lord then said to both of them, both Moses and Aaron, "Because ye have not trusted firmly in Me, to sanctify Me before the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them." The want of belief or firm confidence in the Lord, through which both of them had sinned, was not actual unbelief or distrust in the omnipotence and grace of God, as if God could not relieve the want of water or extend His help to the murmuring people; for the Lord had promised His help to Moses, and Moses did what th”
- Deuteronomy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Deuteronomy 1:37: 1:37 God was angry with me because of you: In his frustration against rebellious Israel, Moses had disobeyed God by striking the rock rather than merely speaking to it (Num 20:10-13).”