The answer is: From a rock

Exo 17:1-7

The dramatic moment when Moses provided water from a rock has become iconic in the biblical narrative. In Exodus 17:1-7, we find the Israelites wandering in the desert, gripped by thirst and frustration. Imagine a throng of people, weary and parched from the relentless sun! Despite witnessing miraculous events in Egypt and at the Red Sea, doubt took hold of the community. They began to question not only Moses' leadership but God's care for them in the desert.

When Moses cried out to God in despair, God instructed him to strike the rock at Horeb. What’s fascinating here is how this simple, yet extraordinary, miracle underscores a central theme in Exodus: God’s commitment to providing for the needs of the people, often in unconventional ways. Interestingly, in later verses like Numbers 20:8-11, Moses strikes another rock, but God’s instructions to speak to the rock this time emphasize communication over action. This distinction highlights the ongoing relationship between God, Moses, and the people.

Did you know that the Israelites are sometimes poetically referred to as 'the rock' throughout ancient Jewish writings? Rock symbolism recurs throughout the scriptures. Strongholds can be protective, just as God's provision was a refuge for the thirsty Israelites in that desolate place. Thus, this passage serves as both a historical lesson and an echo of divine sustenance that resonates through faith traditions. Both water and rock become metaphors for deeper

spiritual vitality.