Two Strikes You're Out

I know what you're thinking. . .no, it's three strikes you're out. But have you ever looked at Moses? He only got two strikes. His first time to strike a rock for water was done following God's instructions, shortly after the group's departure from Egypt. Then after the second time, God informed him he'd lost his opportunity to go into the promise land with his people.

I've often wondered why one strike on a rock was acceptable and another one, albeit angry, wasn't. Without going deeper into study one might think God is wishy-washy. But we know he's not. God never changes. His laws remain constant. It's people who change and think the rules should change with them.

Studying the book A Visual Guide to Bible Events gave me a great insight into the second strike. It took place in a different location from the first. The second area has porous rocks that from the description sounds more like the rock beds we have in Texas, with one major difference. Those rock beds held water under pressure, ours do not. And, in those days any astute person could find the right bulging rocky-mineral cap, hit it and produce an abundant amount of water.

So, when Moses struck the rock with his rod it was something anyone could have done. And at the time, he was angry at the people. Note: he struck it twice. Sure, the people saw the rod as a tool God used in the hands of Moses. But that wasn't the instructions he was given this time.

With the same need in place, in this second episode God gave different directions. He told Moses to speak at the rock not hit it. Because speaking at the rock would have been a sign for the younger Israelites that God was their provider. Instead the grumbling people saw Moses as the provider. In a sense, he now joined the grumbling, rebellious people in their grumbling, rebellious nature and sin of not honoring God as holy. And that's why he was out after the second strike.