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

easts drink. And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as he
commanded him. And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together
before the rock;" but instead of speaking to the rock, as God commanded
him, Moses smote it twice with the rod, after exclaiming impatiently, "Hear
now, ye rebels, must we fetch you water out of this rock?"
Here Moses sinned. He did not ascribe to God the power and glory, and
therefore did not magnify him before the people. The Lord, in his infinite
mercy, caused the waters to flow, but this did not prove that Moses was right
in thus mingling his own spirit with the work of God. Moses here gave
unmistakable evidence before the erring, rebellious congregation, that he had
lost his patience and self-control. To those who indulge in passion, and
fretfulness, this may seem a light matter, but with God it was a grievous
offense. It gave the people occasion to question whether his past course had
been under the direction of God, and to palliate their own sins.
This language was not that which God had put into his mouth, but was
spoken from irritated feeling. "Hear now, ye rebels;" this was all true, but the
truth, even, should not be spoken to gratify passion or impatience. When
God bids Moses charge home upon murmuring Israel their rebellion, the
words will be painful to himself, and hard for them to bear; yet God will
sustain his servant in the declaration of the most severe and unpalatable
truth. But when men take it upon themselves to speak words that scar and
wound, God's Spirit is grieved, and great harm is done. The rash act of
Moses in smiting the rock, and that rash speech, were an exhibition of human
passion, not a holy indignation because God had been dishonored.
The necessity for the manifestation of divine power made the occasion
one of great solemnity, and the servants of God should have improved it to
make a favorable impression upon the people. But Moses and Aaron were
stirred, and in impatience and anger with the people because of their
murmurings, they said, "must we fetch you water out of this rock?" thus
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