MOSES STRIKING THE ROCK.

: Old Testament Stories

After the Israelites left Egypt they crossed the Red Sea, whose waters

divided so that they passed through on dry land. Then they travelled

through the wilderness toward Mount Sinai. Passing onward, they wanted

water and food; and forgetting the great things God had already done

for them, they began to murmur. At a place called Marah they found the

water too bitter to drink; so they grumbled, saying to Moses, "What

sha
l we drink?" He asked God; who showed him a tree, which, when cast

into the water, made it sweet.



Next the people murmured for food, and God sent them manna, which they

gathered every day except the Sabbath; but with all God's care and

kindness the Israelites continued to grumble whenever any difficulty

arose. Journeying forward, they entered another wilderness, called the

Desert of Sin, and came to a place named Rephidim, where they found no

water. They were very thirsty, and came to Moses murmuring and saying,

"Give us water that we may drink." How could Moses do that? He was

grieved with them, and said, "Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye

tempt the Lord?" But the people grew so angry that they were ready to

stone him. Then Moses told God all the trouble, and God showed him

what to do. He was to go before the people, taking the elders of

Israel with him, and his rod, and God would stand before him on a rock

among the mountains of Horeb. This rock he was to strike, when water

would gush forth.



Moses did as God commanded. He went forward with the elders, struck

the rock with his rod; and the pure, clear water gushed out, so that

all the people were able to drink.



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