במדבר כ,ח : קַח אֶּת -הַמַטֶּה, וְהַקְהֵל אֶּת -הָעֵדָה אַתָה וְאַהֲרֹּן אָחִיךָ, וְדִבַרְ תֶּם אֶּל-הַסֶּלַע לְעֵינֵיהֶּם, וְנָתַן מֵימָיו
According to Sforno, many problems in understanding. Earlier (Shmos 17,6) Moshe was commanded to strike rock and bring forth water. Here at Merivah, Moshe and Aharon we told to speak to the rock. Also, why in this incident Moshe was also commanded to bring his staff?
Sforno states the purpose now was to bring a miracle that shows that Moshe, the messenger, is good leader, and God (the sender) is all good.
Three possible kinds of miracles:
- Hidden miracle such as: dewfall, general reprieve from illness etc. Comes as a result of the prayers of righteous.
- Revealed miracle which nature could never accomplish alone, but with tzaddik’s help such as: ground opening; sun standing still
- Miracle which nature could never do such as: turning stone into water. water from rock. This type of miracle has no apparent without source since declared by HaShem.
This third miracle was what HaShem wanted people to see through דיבור. This would resolve the problems of leader and Sender (HaShem). There is nothing to fear for He is there as represented by Moshe’s staff, which could even become like a faucet for the drawing of water for each tribe.
Moshe and Aharon decided together to make the second kind of miracle because they did not believe HaShem would make the third kind for the undeserving Israelite mob. Further, an additional problem with doing this one is that the 2nd miracle makes the messenger (Moshe) look great, but completely disregards the Sender. And didn’t show the ‘fighters’ the error of their ways.
