Water From a Rock

In distress Moses cried out to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people?” He was directed to take the elders of Israel and the rod with which he had worked wonders in Egypt, and to go on ahead of the people. And the Lord said to him, “Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” He obeyed, and the waters gushed out in a living stream that abundantly supplied the entire camp. In His mercy, the Lord made the rod His instrument to bring about their deliverance.BOE 143.4

It was the Son of God who, veiled in the cloudy pillar, stood beside Moses and caused the life-giving water to flow. All the congregation saw the glory of the Lord; but if the cloud had been removed, they would have been killed by the terrible brightness of Him who was hidden in it.BOE 143.5

The people’s unbelief was wicked, and Moses feared that the judgment of God would fall on them. He called the name of the place Massah, “tempted,” and Meribah, “contention,” as a memorial of their sin.BOE 144.1