In this week’s Parsha, we find that Bnei Yisrael lost their source of water when Miriam died as the well that travelled with them in the desert existed in her merit. The Bnei Yisrael complained to Moshe and Aharon, Why have you brought us to the wilderness to die (of thirst)?
Hashem then commanded, “Take the staff and gather together the assembly…and speak to the rock before their eyes that it shall give its waters.”
Moshe and Aharon gathered the nation in front of the rock, hit it twice with the staff and it gave forth water!
Hashem then told them that since you didn’t sanctify me before the nation, you will not merit to bring them to Eretz Yisrael.
The question is obvious: What is the difference between hitting the rock or speaking to the rock? Either way, the water that resulted came through miraculous means and caused a Kiddush Hashem! How is this a lack of properly sanctifying Hashem’s name?!
Before we answer this question, we must ask, what was Moshe supposed to say when he spoke to the rock? The Midrash explains that Moshe was supposed to teach a Mishna or a Perek before the rock! When the rock would subsequently produce water, this would be a tremendous lesson to Bnei Yisrael. They would have seen that their very existence, even on a physical level, is dependent upon a person’s connection to Torah, to the word of Hashem. By failing to impart this lesson, a great opportunity was wasted despite witnessing the miracle of a rock gushing water!
In our day to day life, we might think that our success is dependent upon our own efforts. In reality, our success depends on the will of Hashem. The more one is attuned to Hashem and his Torah, the more succesful he will be both in this world and in the World To Come.

By Rabbi Sharaga Thav
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