These people were thirsty, very thirsty. Even though they were to the brink of their end and their patience is gone m, they had the the ability to still be on guard and aware of their surroundings.

The others only thought of water and self preservation at that moment.

No one knows what they will do until given circumstances that require them to see what they are made of. I call it levels. For instance anyone who joins the USA military is of those who were all tried. Yet the elite forces in the military would be the even fewer. Those are who God can use to destroy any foe.

In the Spiritual sense this applies too.