Numbers 20:2-13

Easy-to-Read Version

Moses Makes a Mistake

² There was not enough water for the people at that place. So the people met together to complain against Moses and Aaron. ³ The people argued with Moses and said, “Maybe we should have died in front of the Lord like our brothers did. ⁴ Why did you bring the Lord’s people into this desert? Do you want us and our animals to die here? ⁵ Why did you bring us from Egypt? Why did you bring us to this bad place? There is no grain. There are no figs, grapes, or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink.”

⁶ So Moses and Aaron left the crowd of people and went to the entrance of the Meeting Tent. They bowed down to the ground, and the Glory of the Lord appeared to them.

⁷ The Lord spoke to Moses and said, ⁸ “Get the special walking stick. Take your brother Aaron and the crowd of people and go to that rock. Speak to the rock in front of the people. Then water will flow from the rock, and you can give that water to the people and to their animals.”

⁹ The walking stick was in the Holy Tent, in front of the Lord. Moses took the walking stick as the Lord said. ¹⁰ Moses and Aaron told the people to meet together in front of the rock. Then Moses said, “You people are always complaining. Now listen to me. I will cause water to flow from this rock.” ¹¹ Moses lifted his arm and hit the rock twice. Water began flowing from the rock, and the people and their animals drank that water.

¹² But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “You did not trust me enough to honor me and show the people that I am holy. You did not show the Israelites that the power to make the water came from me. So you will not lead the people into the land that I have given them.”

¹³ This place was called the waters of Meribah.^[a] This is where the Israelites argued with the Lord and where he showed them that he was holy.