As Moses led Israel through the wilderness, there was a time when there was no water for the congregation. Now that is a difficult circumstance! How long can we live without water? A few days? Not long! So, the pressure is on in the hearts of God’s people. We’re going to die! What are their choices? Get depressed? Become fearful? Get angry? Look for water? Trust God? If so, what would that trust look like? What would you have done?

The Israelites decided the best thing to do was quarrel with Moses: "Why then have you brought the LORD'S assembly into this wilderness, for us and our beasts to die here? Why have you made us come up from Egypt, to bring us in to this wretched place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, nor is there water to drink (Num 20:4-5).” Remember, Moses was designated by God to lead this people out of Egypt into the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. Moses is following God’s orders. So, the Israelites are actually quarreling with God, because God is leading the people through Moses.

Moses, too, is now facing internal pressure. He’s facing a large assembly gathered together against him and Aaron. As Moses, what would you be thinking? Are they going to kill us? Would you be calm enough to exhort the people to trust God? What Moses did cost him entrance into the land. God told Moses simply and plainly to speak to the rock before them and it would bring forth water. Very simple, right? Moses uses the opportunity, however, to exert authority beyond what was given to him. Since God hadn’t caused them to trust his leadership, he was going to put the people in their place before his eyes. He called them rebels and then struck the rock, rather than speaking to it. The result: water gushed forth. How gracious our God is. God’s people quarrel with Him and He still gives them water. God’s appointed leaders quarrel with Him, and He still provides through them.

But there is a cost to this quarreling. The Israelites did not please God by their unbelief. That unbelief, and responses flowing from that unbelief, became a temptation for Moses to disobey God and to seek results (submission to his leadership) which only God can produce. Moses did not point to God as holy; instead he sought to exalt his own position. He pointed to himself as holy, not to God as holy. That sin cost him entrance into the promised land.

Beloved, remember Paul’s exhortation in Phil 2:12-16 (esp v 14). God is at work in us in every circumstance. He is good and His purposes are wise and good. We have no reason to quarrel with God about any circumstances we face because God is doing something good in us through them (Rom. 8:28-29).