Advent Day 4 :: Strike the Rock

“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.” (Exodus 17:6)

According to the USGS website up to 60% of the human adult body is water. The brain and heart are composed of 73% water. The lungs are about 83% water. The skin contains 64% water, muscles and kidneys are 79%, and even the bones are watery - containing 31% of water!

To say that water is a necessity to a healthy lifestyle is an understatement. Every part of our being requires it to function and remain intact. We often take it for granted not understanding that it is such a vital part of our existence. We depend on it.

There’s nothing more refreshing on a hot dry day than a tall, cold glass of water. It’s refreshing. Yeah, we might want a glass of tea or a nice cold Dr. Pepper, but it doesn’t have the same effect that cold water does. You feel revitalized.

The nation of Israel was in dire need of it.

They had been walking in the desert. No food. No water. As was there natural response to everything, they grumbled. I feel bad for Moses. I can’t really say that I am much different though. I complain to myself when I run out of my favorite snacks knowing quite well that there are plenty of other options to choose from. Sadly, this wasn’t the case for Moses and the Israelites.

They’re hot, tired and bothered. We saw this yesterday. They complained and God struck them with poisonous snakes. This time instead of the nation crying out to God, Moses cries out. He’s had enough. He’s burnt out. He didn’t want this job from the beginning. God met Moses in the burning bush and Moses tried to convince God to find someone else. He didn’t think he had what it took to accomplish what God wanted him to do. So God provided a way.

The people grumbled. They were thirsty and the nation was blaming Moses. (17:3)

God responded to Moses’ cry and told him what to do. There was a rock at Horeb that God directed him to and told Moses and the other leaders that He would meet them there. I can just imagine Moses’ reaction. **We want water God, not a rock.**

God commanded Moses to strike the rock and no sooner than he did, water came gushing out and the people drank.

Now pause for a moment with me, will you? Think about it for a second. Water came out and the people drank. A WHOLE NATION of people drank water. One commentary projects that there may have been 2-3 million people. MILLIONS of people are having their thirst satisfied by water coming from the rock Moses struck. Not to mention all their livestock and other animals.

It must have been such a refreshing moment. People filling their jugs and jars with cool fresh water. It doesn’t just end there.

Later on Paul tells us in his first letter to the Corinthians that the rock followed them. It provided water for the nation, and it provides it for us (1 Corinthians 10:4). Paul continues on and tells us that the Rock was Christ. He is the source of living water. God was teaching the nation of Israel to depend on Him. Paul tells us "Now these things happened to them as an example; and they were written down for our instruction." Through his example with the nation of Israel we are to learn the same, to depend on Christ as our source of living water. Our coming King is dependable and a reliable source of soul refreshing water.

"A dry and weary land where there is no water," (Psalm 63:1) well represents this world to one who does not know about the coming Saviour. As the Israelites who would have died without that refreshing water at Horeb, the world will die without Christ. There is nothing more distressing than when you are thirsty and without anything to drink. There is nothing more delightful than a refreshing glass of cool water to a dry mouth.

"As the deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God." (Psalm 42:1-2) Only the thirsty can appreciate a drink; so only those who first feel the need for a Savior can experience the joy of being rescued. Not only will the thirsty soul be satisfied that drinks of the living water Christ provides, but it shall "become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:14) This refreshing spring of life flows for all. "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink."(John 4:13)

We also need to be careful to make sure that Christ is our only source of water. I love what the Psalmist writes in Psalm 1

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” (vv. 1-3)‬

We need to be planted by the streams of water that is Christ. Abiding in Him that we may become fruitful and point others to the life giving water that is Christ.

Where are you planted? Are you relying and depending on Christ for all of your needs? Has He become your source of life? During this Christmas holiday, take a moment to slow down and give thanks for all that Christ has done for you. If possible, share some of what you’re thankful for with somebody else, that they may “taste and see that the Lord is good”.

Further Reading: John 4:1-45

Photo by Sergey Mazhuga on Unsplash