Water from Rock at Kadesh

Illustration of Water from Rock at Kadesh

During the Israelites' journey through the wilderness, the community faced a lack of water at Kadesh in the Desert of Zin, leading to complaints against Moses and Aaron. God instructed Moses to speak to a rock so that it would yield water for the people and their livestock, but Moses, in anger, struck the rock twice with his staff instead. Water miraculously flowed from the rock, quenching the thirst of the multitude, yet God declared that Moses and Aaron would not enter the Promised Land due to their failure to uphold His holiness before the Israelites. This event underscores the themes of divine provision, human frailty, and the consequences of disobedience in the biblical narrative.

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Details

Category
Provision
Testament
Old Testament
Performed by
God through Moses

Key Passages

The Miracle

Numbers 20:7-12

A7nd 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. 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? 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.

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Did You Know?

1

At Kadesh, the people again complained of no water, just as their fathers had done.

2

God told Moses to speak to the rock, but Moses struck it twice in anger.

3

Water came out abundantly, but Moses was barred from entering the Promised Land for his disobedience.

4

This shows both God's continued provision and the serious consequences of failing to honor Him.