For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: Where did Moses get water from a rock?
Here are the two answers which the skeptic believes indicate a Bible contradiction:
The wilderness of Sin in Rephidim
“Then all the congregation of the sons of Israel journeyed by stages from the wilderness of Sin, according to the command of the Lord, and camped at Rephidim, and there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water that we may drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” 3 But the people thirsted there for water; and they grumbled against Moses and said, “Why, now, have you brought us up from Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” 4 So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “What shall I do to this people? A little more and they will stone me.” 5 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 He named the place Massah and Meribah because of the quarrel of the sons of Israel, and because they tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us, or not?”” (Exodus 17:1-7)
The desert of Zin in Kadesh
“Then the sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came to the wilderness of Zin in the first month; and the people stayed at Kadesh. Now Miriam died there and was buried there. 2 There was no water for the congregation, and they assembled themselves against Moses and Aaron. 3 The people thus contended with Moses and spoke, saying, “If only we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord! 4 Why then have you brought the Lord’s assembly into this wilderness, for us and our beasts to die here? 5 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.” 6 Then Moses and Aaron came in from the presence of the assembly to the doorway of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to them; 7 and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 8 “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. You shall thus bring forth water for them out of the rock and let the congregation and their beasts drink.”” (Numbers 20:1-8)
“for in the wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against My command to treat Me as holy before their eyes at the water.” (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)” (Numbers 27:14)
“because you broke faith with Me in the midst of the sons of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, because you did not treat Me as holy in the midst of the sons of Israel.” (Deuteronomy 32:51)
(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)
Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:
- When dealing with skeptics’ claim of Bible contradictions it seems one can never be reminded enough of what exactly is a contradiction. A contradiction occurs when two or more claims conflict with one another so that they cannot simultaneously be true in the same sense and at the same time. To put it another way, a Bible contradiction exists when there are claims within the Bible that are mutually exclusive in the same sense and at the same time.
- One should be skeptical of whether this is a Bible contradiction given the Skeptic Annotated Bible’s track record of inaccurately handling the Bible. See the many examples of their error which we have responded to in this post: Collection of Posts Responding to Bible Contradictions. Of course that does not take away the need to respond to this claim of a contradiction, which is what the remainder of this post will do. But this observation should caution us to slow down and look more closely at the passages cited by the Skeptic Annotated Bible to see if they interpreted the passages properly to support their conclusion that it is a Bible contradiction.
- The skeptic tries to pit three passages (Numbers 20:1-8, Numbers 27:14, Deuteronomy 32:51) against Exodus 17:1-7 as a contradiction. In regards to Numbers 20:1-8, Numbers 27:14 and Deuteronomy 32:51 the skeptic cited these passages as teaching the claim “Moses got water from a rock at the desert of Zin in Kadesh.” The skeptic did rightly interpreted those verse as making that claim. Numbers 20:1-8 is the main passage for that while Numbers 27:14 and Deuteronomy 32:51 summarizes the event in Numbers 20:1-8. Meanwhile the skeptic cited Exodus 17:1-7 as making the claim “Moses got water from a rock at the desert of Sin in Kadesh in Rephidim.” Again the skeptic is right in interpreting Exodus 17:1-7 correctly.
- Yet there is not a Bible contradiction here. Note the claim “Moses got water from a rock at the desert of Zin in Kadesh” does not necessarily contradict the claim “Moses got water from a rock at the desert of Sin in Kadesh in Rephidim:” Logically speaking the contradictory statement against the claim “Moses got water from a rock at the desert of Zin in Kadesh” would be if there’s a Bible verse that taught “Moses got water ONLY from a rock at the desert of Sin in Kadesh in Rephidim.” But that claim is not the same thing as the claim “Moses got water from a rock at the desert of Sin in Kadesh in Rephidim.” Likewise to contradict the claim “Moses got water from a rock at the desert of Sin in Kadesh in Rephidim” require a Bible verse that taught the claim “Moses got water ONLY from a rock at the desert of Zin in Kadesh.” But those passages in question doesn’t exclude the possibility of Moses getting water elsewhere.
- Furthermore the two claims are not necessarily contradictory since Moses can get water from a rock in two different locations at two different times. In fact careful considerations of the the context suggests they were two separate instances when Moses got water from rocks. If this is true then we don’t have a contradiction here.
- One reason to see “Moses got water from a rock at the desert of Sin in Kadesh in Rephidim” and “Moses got water from a rock at the desert of Zin in Kadesh” as taking place at different times is to look at the dates in the Bible surrounding the passages the skeptics cited.
- The incident in Exodus 17:1-7 in which Moses got water from the rock at the desert of Sin in Kadesh in Rephidim occurred between the 15th day of the 1st month of the 1st year of the Exodus and the 1st day of the 3rd month of the first year of the Hebrew’s escape from Egypt. We know this because before Exodus chapter 17, Exodus 12:2 and Exodus 12:5 tells us that the Hebrews’ departed from Egypt on the 15th day of the 1st month while Exodus 19:1 tells us the Hebrews arrival at Mount Sinai on the 1st day of the 3rd month. Thus Exodus 17:1-7 took place in the first year of the Hebrew’s departure from Egypt.
- Numbers 20:1-8 is the main passage recording the incident in which Moses got water from the rock at the desert of Zin in Kadesh. As noted earlier Numbers 27:14 and Deuteronomy 32:51 provide a quick summary of the event in Numbers 20:1-8. Yet the whole book of Numbers took place on the second year after the Hebrews departed Egypt. Note the opening of the book of Number in Numbers 1:1 mentioning the timing was “on the first of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt.” The second year is mentioned elsewhere before Numbers 20: Numbers 9:1 and Numbers 10:11.
- We don’t have a contradiction here since Moses getting water from the rock at the desert of Sin in Kadesh in Rephidim occurred in the first year of the Hebrews’ departure from Egypt while the incident in which Moses got water from the rock at the desert of Zin in Kadesh occurred during the second year of the Hebrews’ departure.
- A second reason to see “Moses got water from a rock at the desert of Sin in Kadesh in Rephidim” and “Moses got water from a rock at the desert of Zin in Kadesh” as taking place at different times is to pay attention to the question of whether or not the Tabernacle has been built yet.
- Exodus 17:1-7 was before the building of the Tabernacle since the Tabernacle won’t be completed until the 1st day of 1st month of the second year according to Exodus 40:1, 40:16. Recall Exodus 17:1-7 took place between the first and third month of the Hebrews leaving Egypt.
- Yet according to the introduction to the book of Numbers in Numbers 1:1 there was already in existence “the tent of meeting” (Tabernacle).
- Thus we see clearly that Exodus 17 and Numbers 20 are two separate events.
- A third reason one should see Exodus 17 and Numbers 20 as separate incidents is to note that Moses’ sister Miraim was already dead in Numbers 20:1 while she was still alive during the time of Exodus including the time of Exodus 17.
- Still a fourth reason to consider: The desert is a dry place with little water and we shouldn’t be surprised that God would provide water for the Hebrews at different location during their travel. So to see a parallel and similarities between Exodus 17 and Numbers 20 doesn’t mean they are the same event in light of the strong exegetical reasons we have already given of why they are two separate events.
- We can say conclusively there is no contradiction here. The skeptics are so sloppy in handling these passages according to their chronological context.
- We shouldn’t miss that worldviews are at play even with the skeptic’s objection to Christianity. The worldview of the author of the Skeptic Annotated Bible actually doesn’t even allow for such a thing as the law of non-contradiction to be meaningful and intelligible. In other words for him to try to disprove the Bible by pointing out that there’s a Bible contradiction doesn’t even make sense within his own worldview. Check out our post “Skeptic Annotated Bible Author’s Self-Defeating Worldview.”
[…] Where did Moses get water from a rock? […]
Thanks for breaking down another of Steve Wells’ alleged contradictions by a careful examination of Scripture. I appreciate that these rebuttals take a lot of study and effort so thank you for that!
You’re welcome. I am glad you see that these rebuttals take some time and effort on my part, to really get down to know what’s going on with these verses in their context and I try to give a thorough refutation. With pun intended in light of this post, I want the rebuttal to be “overflowing.” But that takes time and sometime more time than I anticipated like this one, which I finished at 4 in the morning…
Yup, I can definitely see how you spend a lot of time and take great care so that there are no loose ends. I and many others have been blessed by this series. Lord continue to bless all your ministries!
Thank you for staying up till 4 to work on this article
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Thanks for the reblog!
Yankee Whiskey Bravo 😎🤙
Again, the Annotated Bible’s author fights his self.
Agreed. Doesn’t it seems that the more je attacks the Word, the more he himself become more irrational?
Amen.:)
Sure seems like it
Pretty solid response
Appreciate the hard work on these
Thank you so much. Glad you see there was some work behind this to know the context and all! But I suspect you see the work because you yourself put work into teaching the Bible…
Well I’d say that if one teaches or writes and doesn’t work hard at it, they might be half stepping
Reblogged this on RG's 2 Cents Studios.
When I saw this title in my reader, I knew right away which two events he was mistakenly considering one. The reason is that I’ve heard these two incidents taught as a foreshadowing of the future Jewish relationship with Messiah and a possible explanation as to why God reacted harshly with Moses over what we might consider a minor mistake in obedience. Consider that the rock represents Christ The Rock. The first time, Moses was commanded to strike the rock and I’ve heard it said that this represented the Jewish leaders being instrumental in the Sacrificial death of Christ; they struck The Rock. The second time, Moses was commanded to speak to the rock and in his frustration at the people, he struck it. As a result, he was unable to enter the promised land. I’ve heard it said that the second incident foreshadowed the approach of the Jewish people to The Risen Christ. They must ‘speak’ to Christ in order to be saved. If they strike The Rock a second time (reject Christ), there is no other sacrifice to save them, and they can not enter The Kingdom of Heaven. Not that Moses couldn’t enter The Kingdom of Heaven, I’m sure that he did, but that he was a part of an illustration of the future relationship of God’s people and their Savior.
What a good insight. I do think striking stone is picked up as a theme in the Gospel but some of your points are things I’ve heard for the first time from you. Thanks for sharing those insights and also for reblogging this post!
Thank you, Jim! And I was glad to reblog this important message. 🙂
That was helpful
The Skeptic Annotated Bible author keeps tripping over God’s Word every time he presents a contradiction. Thank you for making this non contradiction so clear and easy to understand. God’s Word is amazing. All the information needed is contained therein, when we put the hard work to study it we learn and grow. Appreciating all your hard work brother Jim.
Thank you for your supporting comment, I do try to make these refutations of alleged Bible contradictions thorough while as easy to understand as possible. So your comments are very encouraging. Do you still do evangelism on Fridays?
You are welcome pastor Jim. Yes we still doing street evangelism on Fridays . 😊
[…] Looking therefore at the remainder of the first two verses we see the two verses are not contradictory because the events in Exodus 17:5-7 and Numbers 20:7-8 happened at different times. Check out our previous post “Where did Moses get water from a rock?“ […]
[…] 6.) Bible Contradiction? Where did Moses get water from a rock? […]
[…] Where did Moses get water from a rock? […]
Hey, how’s it going?
I want to pass along some very important news that everyone needs to hear!
In December of 2017, Donald Trump made history by recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Why is this big news? Because by this the Jewish people of Israel are now able to press forward in bringing about the Third Temple prophesied in the Bible.
Jewish Rabbis have publicly announced that their Messiah will be revealed in the coming years who will be a leader and spiritual guide to all nations, gathering all religions under the worship of one God.
Biblical prophecy tells us that this Jewish Messiah who will take the stage will be the antichrist “who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:4). For a time he will bring about a false peace, but “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (Matthew 24:15)…then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21).
More importantly, the power that runs the world wants to put a RFID microchip in our body making us total slaves to them. This chip matches perfectly with the Mark of the Beast in the Bible, more specifically in Revelation 13:16-18:
“He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.”
Referring to the last days, this could only be speaking of a cashless society, which we have yet to see, but are heading towards. Otherwise, we could still buy or sell without the mark amongst others if physical money was still currency. This Mark couldn’t be spiritual because the word references two different physical locations. If it was spiritual it would just say in the forehead. RFID microchip implant technology will be the future of a one world cashless society containing digital currency. It will be implanted in the right-hand or the forehead, and we cannot buy or sell without it. Revelation 13:11-18 tells us that a false prophet will arise on the world scene doing miracles before men, deceiving them to receive this Mark. Do not be deceived! We must grow strong in Jesus. AT ALL COSTS, DO NOT TAKE IT!
“Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name” (Revelation 14:9-11).
People have been saying the end is coming for many years, but we needed two key things. One, the Third Temple, and two, the technology for a cashless society to fulfill the prophecy of the Mark of the Beast.
Visit http://WWW.BIBLEFREEDOM.COM to see proof for these things and why the Bible truly is the word of God!
If you haven’t already, it is time to seek God with all your heart. Jesus loves you more than you could imagine. He wants to have a relationship with you and redeem you from your sins. Turn to Him and repent while there is still hope! This is forever…God bless!
“EITHER HUMAN INTELLIGENCE ULTIMATELY OWES ITS ORIGIN TO MINDLESS MATTER OR THERE IS A CREATOR…” – JOHN LENNOX
We all know God exists. Why? Because without Him, we couldn’t prove anything at all. Do we live our lives as if we cannot know anything? No. So why is God necessary? In order to know anything for certain, you would have to know everything, or have revelation from somebody who does. Who is capable of knowing everything? God. So to know anything, you would have to be God, or know God.
A worldview without God cannot account for the uniformity and intelligibility of nature. And why is it that we can even reason that God is the best explanation for this if there is no God? We are given reason to know or reject God, but never to know that He does not exist.
It has been calculated by Roger Penrose that the odds of the initial conditions for the big bang to produce the universe that we see to be a number so big, that we could put a zero on every particle in the universe, and even that would not be enough to use every zero. What are the odds that God created the universe? Odds are no such thing. Who of you would gamble your life on one coin flip?
Is there evidence that the Bible is the truth? Yes. Did you know that the creation accounts listed in the book of Genesis are not only all correct, but are also in the correct chronological order? That the Bible doesn’t say the Earth was formed in six 24-hour days but rather six long but finite periods of time? That the Bible makes 10 times more creation claims than all major “holy” books combined with no contradictions, while these other books have errors in them? The Bible stood alone by concurring with the big bang saying, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1); and says our universe is expanding, thousands of years before scientists discovered these things. Watch a potential life-changing video on the front page of http://WWW.BIBLEFREEDOM.COM with Astronomer(PhD) Hugh Ross explaining all these facts based on published scientific data. He has authored many books, backed even by atheist scientists.
Jesus fulfilled more than 300 Messianic prophecies concerning His birth place, details of His life, His mission, His nature, His death, and His resurrection. He came to pay a debt that we could not, to be our legal justifier to reconcile us back to a Holy God; only if we are willing to receive Him: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
God so loved the world that He gave us His only begotten son, so that whoever believes in Him, through faith, shall not perish, but have everlasting life. Jesus says if we wish to enter into life to keep the commands! The two greatest commands are to love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind; and your neighbor as yourself. All the law hang on these commands. We must be born of and lead by the Holy Spirit, to be called children of God, to inherit the kingdom. If we are willing to humble ourselves in prayer to Jesus, to confess and forsake our sins, He is willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who keep asking of Him; giving us a new heart, leading us into all truth!
Jesus came to free us from the bondage of sin. The everlasting fire was prepared for the devil and his angels due to disobedience to God’s law. If we do the same, what makes us any different than the devil? Jesus says unless we repent, we shall perish. We must walk in the Spirit, producing fruits of love and forgiveness, so we may not fulfill the lusts of the flesh being hatred, fornication, drunkenness and the like. Whoever practices such things will not inherit the kingdom (Galatians 5:16-26). If we sin, we may come before Jesus to ask for forgiveness (1 John 2:1-2). Evil thoughts are not sins, but rather temptations. It is not until these thoughts conceive and give birth by our hearts desire that they become sin (James 1:12-15). When we sin, we become in the likeness of the devil’s image, for he who sins is of the devil (1 John 3:8); but if we obey Jesus, in the image of God. For without holiness, we shall not see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).
The oldest religion in the world is holiness (James 1:27). What religion did Adam and Eve follow before the fall? Jesus, Who became the last Adam, what religion does He follow? Is He not holy? He never told us to follow any religion or denomination but to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him (Luke 9:23). There are many false doctrines being taught leading people astray. This is why we need the Holy Spirit for discernment. Unlike religion, holiness cannot be created. It is given to us from above by the baptism of the Spirit. Jesus is more than a religion; He is about having a personal relationship with the Father. Start by reading the Gospel of Matthew, to hear the words of God, to know His character and commandments. Follow and obey Jesus, for He is the way, the truth, and the life!
God’s Word stands!
[…] Where did Moses get water from a rock? […]
The skeptics are totally spiritually blind to make this mistake in saying there’s a contradiction
And dumb as a rock
The answer I was looking for. Keep ’em coming.
This was not an easy one! Thank you for your long answer.
[…] Where did Moses get water from a rock? […]