“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Hebrews 9:28).

Not long after the people of Israel had left Egypt, they stopped at Rephidim (Exodus 17:1). There they found no water, and spoke bitterly against Moses. When Moses appealed to God, God commanded him to strike a rock with his rod, and water flowed from the rock (Exodus 17:6). Later, at Kadesh, the people again railed against Moses (Numbers 20:1–5), and God commanded Moses to take his rod and to speak to the rock that lay before them at Kadesh. Moses, in his anger at the people, struck the rock twice with his rod, rather than speaking to it. Water did flow from the rock, but because of Moses’ disobedience, God told him that he would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land.

This may seem to be harsh punishment for a moment of disobedience, but God had a very special reason for such severity. The rock represents Christ, who was struck once for our iniquities, and extends forgiveness, pardon, and eternal life to all who call upon God in His name. “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: but this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:10–12). “For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14). Similar passages are found in Romans 6:9,10 and Hebrews 9:25–28. Unfortunately, some Christians believe they must offer, again and again, the body and blood of Christ as a sacrifice. But praise God, since Christ has already fulfilled the Law, we now only need to speak to the Rock. DTG