Why were Moses and Aaron kept out of the Promised Land?

In Numbers 20:8, the Lord told Moses, “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.” 

Numbers 20:9-11 records Moses’ response: “So Moses took the staff from the LORD’s presence, just as He commanded him. He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, ‘Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?’ Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.” 

Numbers 20:12 gives us the Lord’s response, “But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”

What did Moses together with his brother Aaron do that warranted such a severe penalty from the Lord? First, Moses disobeyed a direct command from God. God had commanded Moses to speak to the rock. Instead, Moses struck the rock with his staff. 

Second, Moses took the credit for bringing forth the water. Notice how in verse 10 Moses said, “must we (referring to Moses and Aaron) bring you water out of this rock.” Moses took credit for the miracle himself, instead of attributing it to God. 

Third, Moses did this in front of all the Israelites. Such a public example of direct disobedience could not go unpunished. The punishment of both Moses and Aaron (since they both had been directly instructed by God) was that they would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 20:12). 

To learn more about Moses listen to, “What Does Moses the Deliverer Teach Us About Jesus?”