Rock of Anger

Anger can have a way of getting the best of us. Trials can press us to the limits of our patience. Grumbling people can stretch us thin and cause us to do things we later regret.

Moses faced all of the above as he led Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness to the promised land. Time after time the people complained to him, grumbling about their circumstances and blaming him for all their troubles. In Numbers 20:5 they were angry about the lack of water:

“Why have you made us come up from Egypt, to bring us in to this wretched place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, nor is there water to drink (NASB).”

So Moses and Aaron go before the presence of God and God tells them, “Take the rod; and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it may yield its water (8).” Once again God comes through and provides for their needs. However, Moses lets his anger against the grumbling Israelites get the best of him. He told them, “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock (10)?” He then strikes the rock twice and water flows out for the people and their cattle.

This display of anger in front of the congregation proves to be disrespectful of God and His constant provision for the Israelites. Moses’ outburst has consequences: “But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them (12).’”

When anger drives our words and actions, there can be significant consequences for us. Too often it also causes us to misrepresent God and leave a bad impression with people about the character of God. Sometimes we want to pound the rock in frustration and tell the people around us what we really think. Instead, Ephesians 4:29 reminds us, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” 

But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. – James 3:8-10, NASB