I was reading the Torah, and I noticed that the stories in Numbers 20 and Exodus 17 are most likely parallels. Both have Moses giving the Israelites water from the rock. In Exodus it says that God told Moses to strike the rock, and he did as he was told, but in Numbers it says that God told him, "Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water." In this case Moses disobeyed God, which is why he didn't get to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. So is this a contradiction? -- Daniel
Well, if you read closely you see that the events in Exodus 17 and Numbers 20 take place in different locations. The first events place at Rephidim (Exod 17:1), while the second event took place at Kadesh (Num 20:10). They certainly are very similar. The main difference is Moses' attitude. Most leaders at one time or another are tempted with frustration and anger. This happened with Moses at Kadesh. In keeping with the principle of proportional responsibility, Moses' dishonoring of the Lord merited a severe response. He was to die in the land of Moab, in view of the Promised Land, but not in it.
