Ep. 33. Exodus 17-18 | Water from a Rock
EPISODE 33
WATER FROM A ROCK: EXODUS 17-18
When we meet the Hebrews in Exodus 17, they have been out of Egypt for a little over a month. Wouldn't you know it, they are grumbling again, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?" Remember, in the previous chapter, they were grumbling because they didn't feel like they had enough food. It was so bad that Moses was sure the people were going to stone him to death. But, as God does, he provides for the people and commands Moses to strike a rock, and "water shall come out of it, and the people will drink."
I have always wondered what this scene must have been like. It's doubtful the entire camp of the Israelites was around Moses, but I'm sure it was a crowd of thousands. Surely, the people in the back couldn't see or hear what was happening. Moses struck the rock, and it split open, and the water flowed abundantly enough to water all the people and their animals. I always imagine myself in the back of the crowd, angry and thirsty. I always imagine the buzz that must have come from the front few rows as they saw the water pour forth from the struck stone. Then it happens; water rushes over my sandaled feet! We are rescued because the rock was struck! It's a miracle. (not that there haven't been dozens of those by this point)
The Bible teaches us in First Corinthians that they "all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ." What a glorious image. Christ was struck for our sake, and the water of life flows from him. Does that not take our minds to the woman at the well where Jesus promises water from which those who drink will never thirst again? It takes my mind to the river of life that flows from the altar in Ezekiel 47 and the throne of Christ in Revelation 22. (But I'll save those for a later discussion) Jesus is the wellspring of life. He was struck for our salvation. Don't we thirst for him like a deer pants for the water?
Thirty-eight years later, the people will grumble of thirst again. In Numbers 20 we see the people complaining that there is no water. God instructed Moses to speak to the rock, and the water would flow. Instead, Moses strikes the rock again. Water does flow forward for the sake of the people, but for this disobedience, Moses will not be allowed to enter the Promised Land. If we take the picture of the Rock as a picture of Christ, the meaning is clear enough. Christ need not be struck twice for our salvation.
Though there are a few other things we could dig out of this section, I want to leave you with the name of God introduced to us in Exodus 17:15, "The Lord is my banner." I want you to ruminate on this; we should have no other banner but Christ. A banner was a rallying point for a particular group of people. A banner would be raised to bring together this tribe or that one in Israel. Banners were used to indicate different positions in battle. Banners are used at youth camps to show you where the "blue team" should gather together. They are incredibly useful. As followers of Jesus, we should be careful that we raise no banner other than Christ. The church is divided today with many banners based on differences in baptism, the Lord's Supper, music styles, church leadership models, and various theologies concerning rapture, spiritual gifts, and end times. None of these dividing points weigh more than the cross of Christ. If we hold Christ in common, we will all ultimately rally to his presence on the last day. Christ is our banner. He is who we are united around. There is a singular bride of Jesus, sadly divided over secondary banners we should have never raised.
ADDITIONAL READING: Numbers 20:1-13; 1 Corinthians 10:1-6; Psalm 42: 1; Ezekiel 47; Revelation 22; John 4
