In Exodus 17: 1-7 The people of Israel complained and Moses and Aaron turned to God for help. At God's instruction, he struck "the rock at Horeb" and water came forth. We weren't told what he said to the people before striking the rock.
Later (my reference said 40 years later) in Numbers 20 the children of Israel are in the wilderness of Zin and again are complaining because of lack of water. Moses and Aaron go before the lord and, again, are told to go to "the rock", only this time, Moses is told to speak to the rock. But Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to it. The water came forth, but the LORD chastised Moses and Aaron "Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel"
Everytime I have heard this spoken of, it was said that Moses was punished and not allowed to enter the Holy Land because he "struck" the rock instead of "speaking" to the rock. This has always bothered me. Careful study has led to me believe that Moses was not punished for striking the rock. By the way - the chastisment was for both Moses and Aaron and Aaron did not strike the rock.
Let's look at it again. The LORD said "because you have not believed in me". In order for Moses (and Aaron) to be so severly punished, it had to have something to do with what was in his heart. I don't know what was in their hearts... but I know the actions taken. Picture it - Moses and Aaron are standing beside the rock, before the Israelites and Moses says "Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?" **Did you hear that - he said "we" shall bring water!!!!**
The only ones standing there - the only we - are Moses and Aaron - oh Moses could have meant "we" to be Moses and Aaron and God, but that doesn't matter, what does matter is he said "we". It appears to me that Moses and Aaron did not give God the glory for bringing forth the water. The took the credit for themselves and, by the way, Aaron was punished as well as Moses. "The LORD said to Moses and Aaron you did not believe in me . . . therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.
