“And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ” (I Corinthians 10:4).
At the beginning of the children of Israel’s forty-year wanderings through the wilderness, God commanded Moses to strike the rock so that the thirst-quenching waters might be miraculously provided (Exodus 17:6). At the end of the forty years (Numbers 20:11), Moses struck the rock in disobedience to God’s command simply to “speak to the rock” for its refreshing water.
The apostle Paul is reminding us in the above text that the reason they received physical water was because their spiritual Rock, Christ, had been with them, supplying their needs from start to finish.
The first rock in Exodus 17:6 is a beautiful type of the Lord Jesus Christ being smitten once on the cross, producing life-giving waters of salvation for us. The second rock (Numbers 20:11) is a type of the risen, ascended Christ, who is seated at the throne of grace, to whom we now, as believers, but speak, in order to receive daily, fresh grace.
It is encouraging to know that the Rock, Christ Jesus, is with us from beginning to end. He has said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). We begin with Him at the cross. We continue with Him through this life. We travel with Him right into heaven. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me” (Psalm 23:4).
Our Rock is sure and steadfast. Our Rock is Christ. “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies” (Psalm 18:2,3). NPS
