We should visit the story of Moses’ striking the rock when he was told to speak to it. The issue was that there was no water:
Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. They quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before theLORD! Why did you bring theLORD’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!” (Numbers 20.2 – 5, NIV)
Moses ignored God’s instructions to speak to the rock and instead “struck the rock twice.” Now if it had been me (instead of the Lord), I might have said something like, “Well, I was trying to help you, but you ignored my instructions. I guess you’ll have to go thirsty for a while longer!” But it wasn’t me. Note what happened when Moses was disobedient:
Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. (Numbers 20.11, NIV)
God provided water anyway! It’s called grace.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
14 For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. (Psalm 103.10 – 14, ESV)