Signs of the Times, Book 1 - Ellen G. White

September 30, 1880
The Sin of Moses
After forty years' wandering in the wilderness, the children of Israel
encamped at Kadesh, in the desert of Zin; and Miriam died, and was buried
there. The living stream which flowed from the smitten rock in Horeb, had
followed them in all their journeyings; but just before the Hebrew host
reached Kadesh, the Lord caused the waters to cease. It was his purpose
again to test his people. He would prove whether they would humbly trust
his providence, or imitate their fathers' unbelief and murmuring.
When the thirsting multitude could find no water, they became
impatient, and rebellious. They forgot the power of God which had for so
many years supplied them with water from the rock, and instead of trusting
in their Almighty Leader, they murmured against Moses and Aaron, saying,
"Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord!" that
is, they wished they had been of the number who were destroyed by the
plague in the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.
They angrily inquired, Why have ye brought up the congregation of the
Lord into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there? And
wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this
evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates;
neither is there any water to drink. And Moses and Aaron went from the
presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,
and they fell upon their faces; and the glory of the Lord appeared unto them.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Take the rod, and gather thou the
assembly together, thou and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock
before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth
to them water out of the rock. So thou shalt give the congregation and their
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