The story where Moses strikes the rock to provide water for the Israelites is found in the Book of Exodus, specifically in Exodus 17:1-7. The Israelites, having been freed from Egypt and led by Moses, find themselves in the desert of Sin, wandering and facing the harsh realities of a barren wilderness. As they journey, they come to a place called Rephidim, but there is no water for the people to drink.

Faced with a dire thirst, the Israelites quarrel with Moses, expressing their distress and accusing him of bringing them out of Egypt to die in the wilderness. The tension escalates to the point where Moses fears for his safety from the angry crowd. In his distress, Moses cries out to the LORD, seeking guidance on how to handle the situation.

The LORD instructs Moses to go ahead of the people and take with him some of the elders of Israel. He is also told to take his staff, the same one he used to strike the Nile River in Egypt. God commands Moses to strike a specific rock at Horeb with the staff. Moses does as God commands, and when he strikes the rock, water miraculously flows out of it, providing sufficient water for the people and their livestock.

The place where this miracle occurred was named Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the Israelites and because they tested the LORD by asking, "Is the LORD among us or not?"

This story is significant in the biblical narrative, demonstrating God's provision for His people in times of need, the leadership challenges Moses faced, and the recurring theme of the Israelites' wavering faith and their testing of God, even after witnessing many miracles.

A later event where Moses is instructed to speak to the rock, but instead strikes it, is recounted in the Book of Numbers, specifically in Numbers 20:2-13.
In this later episode, the Israelites again find themselves without water at Kadesh in the Desert of Zin. They gather against Moses and Aaron, voicing their discontent and lamenting their situation. In response to the congregation's outcry, Moses and Aaron seek guidance from the LORD at the Tent of Meeting. The LORD instructs Moses to take the staff, but this time God commands him to "speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water." The intention was for Moses to demonstrate God's power by merely speaking to the rock to bring forth water.

However, Moses, possibly frustrated with the Israelites' constant complaints and rebellion, does not adhere strictly to God's command. Instead of speaking to the rock, he strikes it twice with his staff while addressing the Israelites in anger, saying, "Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?" Water does indeed flow from the rock in abundance, but Moses' action is seen as an act of disobedience and a lack of faith in God's word.
Because of this, the LORD tells Moses and Aaron that they will not bring the Israelite assembly into the land He has given them. This place is also named Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled with the LORD and because He was sanctified among them there.

This story emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's instructions and the consequences of failing to uphold the sanctity of God's commands, even for leaders like Moses and Aaron.