Here is an interesting observation from the account of Moses and the Children of Israel wandering in the wilderness. We are all familiar with the story of God providing water for the Israelites from a rock when they complained to Moses about having no water. In fact, it happened not once, but twice during their forty years of wandering. But what is interesting is that the occurrences were intended to be prophetic in nature, telling of the coming Messiah and how the Jews would receive Him. But, when Moses disobeyed God, the prophetic picture was undone...the imagery was relayed incorrectly by Moses, and it resulted in the only recorded instance of which I am aware of a prophecy being mishandled and left unusable. However, we can look at what God actually intended for Moses to do, and the resulting prophetic message that SHOULD have been relayed through this Biblical account can be deciphered. Let’s look at the passages together and see what transpired, and what the actual prophetic message is.
In the first instance, while camped at Rephidim, God tells Moses to go to Horeb and take his staff with him. When Moses and the elders of Israel arrive at the rock of Horeb, Moses strikes the rock one time as God instructed and water gushed out so that the people could drink and be saved from death from thirst due to a lack of water.
Then all the congregation of the sons of Israel journeyed by stages from the wilderness of Sin, according to the command of the LORD, and camped at Rephidim, and there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water that we may drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?” 3 But the people thirsted there for water; and they grumbled against Moses and said, “Why, now, have you brought us up from Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” 4 So Moses cried out to the LORD, saying, “What shall I do to this people? A little more and they will stone me.” 5 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 He named the place Massah and Meribah because of the quarrel of the sons of Israel, and because they tested the LORD, saying, “Is the LORD among us, or not?” Exodus 17:1-7
The prophetic importance here is how Israel will treat the coming Messiah, the “rock”, the Lord Jesus. The rock (Jesus) is struck by Moses who represents Israel, in the presence of the elders of Israel (the religious leadership). The striking of the rock (the crucifixion of the Lord) provides the waters of salvation (Isaiah 12:3, John 4:14, John 7:37) to the people, saving them from death. This was the first appearance of the Messiah to Israel, and as prophesied, they did strike the Rock in His trial, beating, and subsequent crucifixion on the cross. However, the striking of the Rock also brought forth life-giving waters of eternal life and salvation to the people.
Now I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ. I Corinthians 10:1-4
Later, the Israelites once again are complaining to Moses about a lack of water while camped in the wilderness of Zin at Kadesh. Moses again brings the situation to God and He instructs Moses to take his staff, stand before the people, and speak to the rock so that it may release life-giving water abundantly to the Children of Israel. Moses gathers the people at the rock and instead of speaking to it, he strikes it twice with his staff, disobeying God’s specific instructions. God still provides life-giving water abundantly to the Israelites, in spite of Moses’ failure to follow His directions as given.
Then the sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came to the wilderness of Zin in the first month; and the people stayed at Kadesh...2 There was no water for the congregation, and they assembled themselves against Moses and Aaron. 3 The people thus contended with Moses and spoke, saying, “If only we had perished when our brothers perished before the LORD! 4 Why then have you brought the LORD’S assembly into this wilderness, for us and our beasts to die here?... 6 Then Moses and Aaron came in from the presence of the assembly to the doorway of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to them; 7 and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 8 “Take the rod; and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it may yield its water. You shall thus bring forth water for them out of the rock and let the congregation and their beasts drink.” 9 So Moses took the rod from before the LORD, just as He had commanded him; 10 and Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. And he said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation and their beasts drank. Numbers 20:1-11
The prophetic imagery here was meant to convey a foretelling of how the Messiah would be received by the Children of Israel on His second coming to deliver them during their time of trouble. We know from other Bible prophecies that during the tribulation period the Jews will call to Lord Jesus to deliver them. They will realize that Jesus was the Messiah, repent, and speak to Him to save them in their time of trouble. However, Moses did not speak to the rock as instructed, instead, he struck it...twice.
And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. Zechariah 13:8-9
"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! "See, your house is left to you desolate. "For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord'! " Matthew 23:37-39
This derailed God’s symbolic prophecy, and changed the symbolism of the act. God could no longer use this as a foretelling of how Israel would reject (strike the rock) the Messiah on His first coming to this world, or how the Jews would call on Jesus’ name (speak to the rock) during the tribulation period. All because Moses disobeyed God’s clear instructions. Even though the potentially prophetic actions of Moses are recorded, and his disobedience is pointed out, God still provided for the people. The intent of the instructions God gave Moses are clearly laid out, distinguishing how the life-giving waters are provided the first time from the second time. It is still possible to see the prophecy of how the Messiah will be received by Israel during His first coming, and later during the time of Jacob’s trouble, the tribulation period, the Jews will speak to the Rock to save them, instead of striking the Rock as they had done before.
But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” 13 Those were the waters of Meribah, because the sons of Israel contended with the LORD, and He proved Himself holy among them. Numbers 20:12-13
It was for this very reason that Moses (and Aaron too) were not allowed to enter into the promised land. Due to his failure to obey God and follow His instructions, Moses would suffer the same fate as the rest of the Israelites - to die in the wilderness and not be allowed to enter into the promised land. Moses was allowed to see the promised land from the top of a mountain, but it was there he died and was buried by God Himself.
But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” 13 Those were the waters of Meribah, because the sons of Israel contended with the LORD, and He proved Himself holy among them. Numbers 20:12-13
It was for this very reason that Moses (and Aaron too) were not allowed to enter into the promised land. Due to his failure to obey God and follow His instructions, Moses would suffer the same fate as the rest of the Israelites - to die in the wilderness and not be allowed to enter into the promised land. Moses was allowed to see the promised land from the top of a mountain, but it was there he died and was buried by God Himself.
