The LORD was greatly displeased by the conduct of Mo'ses and Aa'ron. Mo'ses had fallen short of God's command by his silence before the rock, and had gone beyond his orders by striking it. As a fitting punishment for such disobedience the LORD declared that neither Mo'ses nor Aa'ron should be permitted to lead Is'ra-el into Ca'naan.
What a striking example of human weakness! Mo'ses, who was one of the holiest men who ever lived, gave way to anger in the presence of the LORD. At a time when all his thoughts should have been directed to the solemn duty to which the LORD had called him, Mo'ses could not forget the unjust complaints of the people. For this reason he sinned against God by failing to do what the LORD had ordered, and in performing an evil deed which brought shame to him in the presence of all Is'ra-el.
As an everlasting warning to all future generations the name of the place where Mo'ses and Aa'ron sinned was changed from Ka'desh-Bar'ne-a to Mer'i-bah-Ka'desh, which means "place of strife," or "place of bitterness." This name would also serve as a living memorial to the sin of Is'ra-el in rejecting the command which God had given thirty-eight years before, and as a constant warning against similar sins.
This incident also illustrates the need for guarding the strong points of character; for at the very point where one feels secure and considers vigilance unnecessary, the evil one sometimes makes his most subtle attacks. Mo'ses, noted for meekness, becomes petulant; A'bra-ham, celebrated for his faith in God, twice grievously sinned because of doubts; E'li'jah, famed for fearlessness, fled in panic before the vengeance of Jez'e-bel.
