The Water from the Rock

3/6 Reading Portions: Exodus 17; Luke 20; Job 35; 2 Corinthians 5

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3/6 Reading Portions: Exodus 17; Luke 20; Job 35; 2 Corinthians 5

Exodus 17:6

“Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb,
and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it,
and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.”

SPIRIT

Of the Rock at Horeb and the Rock in the wilderness, the apostle Paul tells us that this was an allegorical picture of Christ Jesus:

and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.1 Corinthians 10:4

Just as the Lord Jesus Christ is the sweet nourishment to our souls, as seen in yesterday’s chapter from the manna given by God, Jesus is also our living and eternal supply, giving us the Holy Spirit. By Christ’s atoning death and resurrection, which came by our failing to keep the law of Moses while He alone fulfilled the law of Moses on our behalf, the Lord Jesus sends forth the water of the Holy Spirit into our lives. One of the illustrative pictures of the Holy Spirit is that of water, as John’s gospel informs us (John 7:37-39). Whenever we face trial, tribulation, or temptation, we need only look to our Rock, Jesus Christ, who was smitten of God upon the cross (strike the rock), and He will supply us strength through the life-empowering water of the Holy Spirit. While we must have tasted of the sweet waters of the Spirit at initial salvation, the corruptions of our flesh require that we…

…be filled with the Spirit, Ephesians 5:18

From the original Greek, it may be translated, “Be continually being filled with the Spirit.” It is an ongoing exercise for the Christian as we grow in grace and are strengthened in faith. Christ Jesus is our good, great, and abounding Supply. As He is the Bread of Heaven, we have daily, sweet nourishment in and from Him. As our blessed Rock, we have our thirst quenched so we may be filled with the Spirit whenever we ask. The Lord’s promises are true, just as He preached on the mount:

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Matthew 5:6

Hallelujah! What a Savior!