Today’s story from the book of Numbers recounts a time when the Israelites ran out of water and grumbled to Moses. Their story reminded me of an organization called Charity: Water.
Below is an Internet excerpt about Charity: Water that is a modern-day version of God providing water through His servants.
Charity: water was founded in 2006 by Scott Harrison, a former nightclub promoter. After experiencing an unfulfilling lifestyle, he volunteered on a hospital ship in Liberia, where he witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of a lack of clean water.
This experience inspired him to dedicate his life to addressing the global water crisis. He started the organization by throwing his 31st birthday party and asking for donations instead of gifts, raising money for water projects in Uganda.
Charity: water’s core approach involves a “100% model,” where private donors cover all operational costs, ensuring that every dollar of public donations goes directly to clean water projects. They also emphasize transparency, providing donors with GPS coordinates and photos of the funded projects.
As of July 2025, Charity: water has funded over 186,000 water projects in 29 countries, which are expected to serve more than 20.2 million people with clean, safe drinking water.
Their impact extends beyond just providing water, as access to clean water improves health, education, and economic opportunities, particularly for women and children. They also utilize technology, including remote sensors, to monitor the functionality and sustainability of their water projects.
Grumbling and God’s Answer
Whether you’re in a third-world nation or the desert, awaiting entrance to the Promised Land, the absence of water leads to grumbling, pain, and heartache.
The children of Israel complained against Moses—that’s nothing new. They excelled at it.
Moses prayed, as he always did. Whenever a problem arose, Moses turned to God in prayer, and God provided him with guidance.
Then Moses and Aaron went away from the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting; they fell on their faces, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them.
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and your brother Aaron, and command the rock before their eyes to yield its water.
Thus you shall bring water out of the rock for them; thus you shall provide drink for the congregation and their livestock” (Numbers 20:6-8).
If you have the opportunity to listen to Scott Harrison, the founder of Charity: Water, on YouTube, I highly recommend it. He speaks candidly about both his successes and failures.
Similarly, Moses’ life teaches us that he experienced both triumphs and setbacks. This particular story is one of the tragic failures in his journey.
Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Listen, you rebels; shall we bring water for you out of this rock?”
Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff; water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their livestock drank. (Numbers 20:10-11).
The New Testament identifies the rock that provided water as a pre-incarnate form of Christ.
And all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4).
Rudy Ross believes Moses failed when he struck the rock twice with his staff. Only once was needed, and twice brought dishonor to the Lord Jesus in His pre-incarnate form.
Whether Rudy is right or not, I am not sure. What I am sure of is that God saw Moses’ attitude and actions as displeasing, which kept him from entering the Promised Land.
But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me, to show my holiness before the eyes of the Israelites, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them” (Numbers 20:12).
Reflections
Paul used the experiences of the Israelites as examples of what not to do. I have supplied a few verses, but I encourage you to read all that Paul wrote.
Now these things occurred as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil as they did.
These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come.
So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall (1 Corinthians 10:6, 11-12).
I also hope you will take the time to be inspired by the ministry of Charity: water. You will be blessed by Scott Harrison’s story.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 