What should Moses have said when the people asked for water?
Moses should have said that God had instructed him to speak to the rock and that water would flow for the people. Instead of asking whether he and Aaron must fetch the water, he should have pointed to God's command and power, giving God the glory.
Les teaches that Moses' error was not merely striking the rock but speaking as though he and Aaron would provide the water: 'Must we fetch you water out of this rock?' The pronoun 'we' left God out. Moses should have said, in effect, 'God has instructed me to speak to the rock, and you are going to have all the water.' Les explains that this is what Moses should have done, but in his anger and wrath he became personally arrogant, which was unlike the meekest man who ever lived. In a moment of weakness he lifted his rod and smote the rock the second time. Les points out that this destroyed the type or picture: Christ was smitten once, and after the finished work of the cross we approach Him not with another smiting but by communicating—beseeching Him, talking to Him, and asking Him.