Water from a rock
The Israelites were mad at Moses, really mad, for something that was out of his control. They wanted him to produce water in the desert because they were darn near dying of thirst. He looked all around and seeing no water anywhere said to them, “I can’t get water from a rock, can I? Show me how I can draw water up out of the sand that covers every inch of the ground in this dry land.”
The point of the story is simple. The people had a problem and instead of turning to God they projected all their pain, frustration, and anger on Moses. They unreasonably wanted him to produce water out of thin air, or a rock. Do you ever do that? Project your pain onto other people. I do.
But you can’t get water from a rock, nor can your neighbor solve all your problems.
The Israelites’ thirst is a symbol for a deeper ache that dwells inside of all us. Many of us want things to be okay when things are decidedly not okay. Only God can quench that deep thirst. Moses turns to God and says, “What can I do to help these people?” God says to him, “Strike that rock with your staff, and I will cause water to come out from the rock so my people can drink.” Moses does as he is told and God gets water for the people from a rock.
The point of the story is not that we should turn to God and expect a supernatural event to occur. Water springing forth from the rock in the desert is a symbol reminding us that in our most dire circumstances the answer we need is not likely to come from other people. It will come from God. How did you live through your last hardship? My guess is that somehow God was with you and together you walked, crawled, or stumbled out of the valley. Where are you right now while you’re reading this? At your desk? At the kitchen table? In the car or on the couch? Wherever you are, pause, close your eyes, breathe, let go. Surrender yourself and whatever and whoever you’re tangled up in or with to God. You can’t get water from a rock, but God can. Give yourself and your trouble to God. Then, having let go, like Moses ask God this question, “How can I help your people?” Did that quench your thirst?