The Red Thread: Part 8
Estimated reading time: 19 minutes
The Solid Rock
Jesus Christ is the rock and complete foundation.
Psalm 18:2:
The LORD is my rock [boulder], and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust [flee for refuge]; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
There are two Hebrew words for “rock” in this verse. The first is translated as “rock,” but the second is translated as “strength.” The second (“strength”) is the Hebrew word suri, which is like a huge mountain (The NET Bible translates it as “rocky summit”). You can imagine fleeing and to the mountain and taking refuge in an overhanging rocky ledge. Under that rock, you would be protected from the storm.
God is the rock. The picture of the rock is a symbol (remember type, shadow, and symbol). The symbol has certain characteristics. It’s comparing Christ to a rock.
The Rock of Deliverance
Psalm 61:1–4:
1 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. 2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3 For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. 4 I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust [flee for refuge] in the covert of thy wings. Selah.
Let’s look at a record during the early part of Israel’s time in the wilderness, shortly after crossing the Red Sea.
Exodus 17:1:
And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.
There are at least 600,000 men. So, adding women and children, there were a lot more, perhaps 3 million. That’s a lot of people needing water.
Exodus 17:2–3:
2 Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD? 3 And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?
Moses must have been thirsty, too. Moses had led them through the Passover and killing of the first born in Egypt and through the Red Sea. The Israelites were accustomed to Moses leading them. They are looking to Moses instead of to God.
Exodus 17:4–6:
4 And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me. 5 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
God would be there upon the rock in Horeb. Smiting the rock foreshadowed the killing of Christ. From that rock would pour out water, a common biblical symbol of salvation.
Exodus 17:7:
And he called the name of the place Massah [temptation], and Meribah [murmur or complain], because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?
Moses called the name of that place “temptation” because that’s where the people tempted God. They are doubting whether God is even there, let alone if he’s going to provide them with water.
Now, let’s look at a record near the end of their time in the wilderness. During the time decades between these records, God fed the people every day with manna in the desert. Their sandals and clothes did not wear out.
Numbers 20:1–2:
1 Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there. 2 And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
Remember, most of the older Israelites have died off, leaving only those who were under twenty years old at the beginning of their wandering in the wilderness (the younger generation wasn’t much different from the older generation). They still hadn’t learned to trust God.
Numbers 20:3–5:
3 And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD! 4 And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there? 5 And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.
They’re still thinking about Egypt! That was 40 years ago! This was the generation that was young when they left Egypt.
Numbers 20:6–8:
6 And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them. 7 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
The first time, almost 40 years before, Moses was to strike the rock with the rod. This time, he was to speak to the rock.
Numbers 20:9–10:
10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?
Moses is angry. Did Moses cause the water to come out of the rock the first time?
Numbers 20:11:
And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
This time, Moses was only supposed to speak to the rock; instead, he struck it twice with his rod.
Up until now, Moses had been so faithful. He’d received incredible revelation about the tabernacle, feasts, and all the details that were types and shadows. But this time, he got so upset with the people that he missed obeying God.
Up until now, there were many, many details foreshadowing the Messiah and pointing to Christ. This is important.
This time, Moses took it upon himself, became angry with the people, and struck the rock twice with his rod. By doing so, he missed what speaking to the rock was supposed to be a foreshadowing of.
Numbers 20:12–13:
12 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. 13 This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.
The rock represented or foreshadowed Christ. Nearly 40 years earlier, Moses struck the rock, foreshadowing Jesus’s crucifixion, from which salvation would come. Christ, the rock, was only to be struck (crucified) once—and not again. Moses failed to sanctify God in front of the people and failed to carry out the act (speaking to the rock to bring forth water) that the act was intended to foreshadow. Moses failed to honor what the rock represented.
Neither Moses nor Aaron went into the promised land. The only people from the original generation who made it into the promised land were Joshua and Caleb.
What did it mean that Moses failed to sanctify God in the eyes of the people?
Matthew 7:24–27:
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
It’s not enough just to know that Christ is the rock. To sanctify God is to understand what the rock is and then go to the rock.
Matthew 16:15–19:
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter [a little rock], and upon this rock [the truth that Jesus is the Messiah, the son of the living God] I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
I Corinthians 10:1–4:
1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
Jesus, the rock, always forces people to choose whether they trust God or not.
Matthew 21:42–44:
42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? 43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. 44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder [scatter them like chaff].
The people of Israel did not accept Jesus as their Messiah (their Christ).
Romans 9:31–33:
31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; 33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Israel went through the motions of keeping the law without recognizing that it was all pointing to the Messiah.
Isaiah 28:16:
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste [be disturbed].
In Romans, it said that “whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed,” but in Isaiah, it said, “he that believeth shall not make haste.” The Hebrew word translated as “ashamed” is better translated as “be disturbed.” You can think of being disturbed like running around in circles, thinking you have to do this or that to keep the law and make yourself right with God.
Ephesians 2:20–22:
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
The rock causes people to make choices. Those who believe upon the rock, Christ the Messiah, don’t have to be disturbed or ashamed (yet Moses was disturbed by the people when he was supposed to speak to the rock and thereby foreshadow Christ).
1 Peter 2:4–8:
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect [chosen], precious [costly]: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded [disturbed, ashamed]. 7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
Moses himself stumbled when it failed to sanctify (set apart) what the meaning of the rock was. Christ would only be struck (crucified) one time, as foreshadowed by the first striking of the rock almost 40 years earlier at the beginning of Israel’s wandering.
God raised Christ from the dead, never to suffer and die again. When Moses struck the rock the second time, near the end of Israel’s wanderings, he broke the type (the symbolism). Moses broke the type that should have been foreshadowed by speaking to the rock. Moses didn’t understand the foreshadowing that Christ would never have to suffer again and would never be struck again. His crucifixion was a one-time event, once and for all, forever. So Moses himself stumbled at the stone (rock).
Later, Israel did the same thing. They wanted a Messiah who was a conquering king, not a suffering servant. They didn’t sanctify God in their hearts; they failed to trust that God knew what He was doing.
Romans 10:9–11:
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth [speak] the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed [remember disturbed].
That verse is talking about the rock, the Messiah. Whosoever believeth on the rock shall not be ashamed.
Four Things That Come Out of the Rock
We must understand and trust that God has provided for us a rock of deliverance so we can dwell in the shadow of that cliff (rock ledge) and never be afraid.
1. Water.
Water in Scripture represents life or salvation. You can also explore the teaching on Living Water and the Living Water Article.
John 4:13–14:
Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
When Moses struck the rock (the first time), the water came out, but then they moved on. This water that we have in Christ is a well or spring that never dies. Ever.
2. Fire
Fire in Scripture represents judgment—positive or negative. It could be negative, like being thrown into the lake of fire, or it could be positive judgment such as in the accepting of a sacrifice. For instance, in Judges 6, when God told Gideon to go fight the Midianites, Gideon wanted a sign.
Judges 6:20–21:
20 And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so. 21 Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.
There are other places where fire comes down and consumes an offering. It was a sign of acceptance of the offering.
Ephesians 1:6:
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
We weren’t made accepted because of our good qualities but because of the rock, Jesus Christ.
3. Oil
Oil in Scripture represents prosperity and abundance.
Deuteronomy 32:3–4, 9–15:
3 Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. 4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
9 For the LORD’S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. 10 He [God] found him [Israel] in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. 11 As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: 12 So the LORD alone did lead him [Israel], and there was no strange god with him. 13 He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock; 14 Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape.
15 But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
Remember, oil as a symbol represents prosperity; oil came from the olive tree, the more olive trees you have, the richer you were.
Job 29:5–6:
5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me; 6 When I washed my steps with [God] butter, and the rock [God] poured me out rivers of oil;
Oil was used in anointing; it sanctifies (sets apart). Kings and prophets were anointed with oil.
Leviticus 14:18:
And the remnant of the oil that is in the priest’s hand he shall pour upon the head of him that is to be cleansed: and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD.
The oil represented cleansing that made an atonement for him before the Lord.
Romans 5:11:
And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
4. Honey.
Honey in scripture represents gladness and rejoicing.
Look again at that verse in Deuteronomy.
Deuteronomy 32:13:
He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock;
Psalm 81:16:
He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.
Remember Meribah, where they complained and the water came out of the rock. Look at the close context here.
Psalm 81:7–16:
7 Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.
8 Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me; 9 There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god. 10 I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. 11 But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. 12 So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels. 13 Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! 14 I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries. 15 The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever. 16 He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.
What God wanted to do was give them (and us) the sweetness of life where they would be wholly satisfied in their hearts. Much like the manna, we don’t get that sweetness through our own efforts but by going to the rock.
Psalm 105:40–44:
40 The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven. 41 He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river. 42 For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant. 43 And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness: 44 And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people;
In summary, what comes out of the rock is:
- Water (life, salvation)
- Fire (judgment, acceptance)
- Oil (prosperity and abundance)
- Honey (gladness and rejoicing)
The rock causes people to have to choose. It can be a rock of stumbling, or it can be the rock from which all this sweetness comes. You could do a word study on “satisfy” to learn more.
Isaiah 26:3–4:
3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength [rock]:
Remember the problem Moses had the second time, when he did not speak to the rock (did not sanctify God in the people’s hearts)?
1 Peter 3:15:
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
The Greek text is the Lord Christ (Messiah). Most modern translations render this as sanctify or set apart the Lord Christ in your hearts.
People should ask, why are you so hopeful? Why are you happy? What do you have to rejoice about? We should be ready to give them an answer, to tell them the reason.
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