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A good example is Moses in the OT. Moses, God's prophet, takes the credit for the miracle of causing the water to come from the rock. Was Moses actinng as prophet (spokesman of God) when he took credit for the miracle? No. Otherwise one could claim God was lying. Moses was later chastened for it and repented. (Num 20, 27, Ex 17, Duet 32) However when he told Pharoah to let the children of Israel go he was speaking specifically on behalf of God.

You've got to understand that this one incident was no small matter in God's eyes. I mean look how many God-pleasing things Moses did in his life. A pretty good track record, right? Yet, if God was basing faith upon personal worthiness and spiritual merit badges, then how come God told Moses that it was because of this incident that he would not personally enter the promised land?

In God's eyes, it was a scandalous lack of faith...instead of trusting and taking God at his word, Moses struck the rock in a manner of his own choosing.