So Moses did as he was told. He took the staff from the place where it was kept before the LORD. Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock. “Listen, you rebels!” he shouted. “Must we bring you water from this rock?” Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill.

But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!” This place was known as the waters of Meribah (which means “arguing”) because there the people of Israel argued with the LORD, and there he demonstrated his holiness among them.

Numbers 20:9-13

Then the LORD told him, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed!
Numbers 21:8-9

• Moses is the leader of the Exodus. 
• Moses is the one through which God delivered His people from Egypt. 
• Moses was given the Law. 
• But Moses was not going to enter the Promised Land. 
• Moses disobeyed a direct command from God. 
• God had commanded Moses to speak to the rock. 
• Moses struck the rock with his staff, twice. 
• Moses took credit for bringing forth the water. 
• Must we bring you water out of this rock?
• God could not let this go unpunished. 
• 1 Corinthians 10:4 uses the water-giving rock as a symbol of Christ. 
• Moses striking the rock destroyed the biblical picture.
• Moses was punished for disobedience. 
• Moses was punished for pride. 
• Moses was punished for the misrepresentation of Christ’s sacrifice. 
• Moses would not enter the Promised Land. 
• Moses didn’t complain about the punishment. 
• Moses didn’t moan and groan. 
• Moses didn’t “quit being God’s man.”
• In His judgment, God showed mercy. 
• God showed Moses the Promised Land before he died. 
• God buried Moses. 
• “I’m in a desperate situation!” David replied to Gad. “But let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands.”
  2 Samuel 24:14

When you read of the judgment of God, always look for His mercy.