Beginning of the End - Ellen G. White

parents and grandparents. They forgot God's hand, that for so many
years had supplied their needs. Instead of turning to God for help,
they complained in desperation, exclaiming, "If only we had died
when our brethren died before the Lord!" (that is, in the rebellion of
Korah).
Moses and Aaron, the leaders, went to the door of the
tabernacle and fell on their faces. Moses was directed, "Take the
rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together.
Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus
you shall bring water for them out of the rock."
The two brothers were now old men. They had put up with the
rebellion of Israel for a long time. But now, Moses finally lost his
patience. "Hear now, you rebels!" he cried. "Must we bring water
for you out of this rock?" Instead of merely speaking to the rock, as
God had commanded him, he struck it twice with the rod.
The water gushed out abundantly, but a great wrong had been
done. Moses had spoken from irritated feelings. "Hear now, you
rebels," he said. This accusation was true, but even truth is not to be
spoken in anger or impatience. When he took it on himself to accuse
them, he grieved the Spirit of God. His lack of self-control was
evident. This gave the people an opportunity to question whether in
the past he had been following God's directions. They now found the
excuse they wanted for rejecting the reproofs God had sent through
His servant.
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