Advent 6- water from the rock



The Lord said to Moses, 8“Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”

9So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him. 10He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” 11Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.
12But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.” (Numbers 20)


Seems a bit harsh doesnt it? Moses forfeits his right to enter the promised land just because he struck the rock rather than spoke to it. Lots of words have been written about this passage but the thing that stands out to me is that this isnt the first time God has given people water in this way. Back in Exodus 17 we read this

6 I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the place Massah[a] and Meribah[b] because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

The last time God brought water from a rock it involved hitting the rock.  This time Moses is supposed to speak instead. But he is clearly irritated about having to do this in the first place. His heart isnt right with the people.  And has he got just a little bit presumptuous? Is he taking for granted his own water-providing abilities?  Did he think  ' Oh yes, I know how this goes, Ive done this before'.  Is that why God is upset with Moses?  A wrong attitude and no love for the flock over which he has been given charge? Complacency is so dangerous when it comes to our relationship with the Father. Just because we prayed one way and He answered last time doesnt mean He will respond to the same prayer in the same way next time.  He isnt a formula or a text book.  He is a holy and righteous deity, enthoned on high. His word is mighty and powerful and everything He says is perfect.  We cannot mess with Him and expect to get away with it. Moses didnt trust God enough to honour Him as holy in front of the Israelites - he let God down not only in a personal capacity but as a leader.  And God loves His people too much to leave that unchallenged

Paul in 1 Cor 10 :4 makes it clear that the rock that provided the water was actually Jesus amongst them

 They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 

The water that flowed from it was literally and spiritually the water of life. Without it the people would have perished.  But they should have known that the God who had rescued and delivered them from Egypt, fed and watered them in the desert and made promises of a secure future would not have let them die of thirst.  Yet at the first sign of lack they doubted, complained and fought amongst themselves.

Im exactly the same.  I know God has saved and rescued me. He has nourished and sustained me and provided for me over and over again. He has never let me down.  And yet there are still some days when I grumble at my lot. Cant see the plan. Wonder if the promises are ever going to be fulfilled. Im every bit as bad as they were. Which makes me deeply grateful that God decided to reach down into the mirey clay and set my feet upon the Rock which cannot be shaken.   He has put me there and nothing can now separate me from Him or move my feet from the place He has planted me. Living waters flow out from Him and from me.   Its a mystery.  Hallelujah

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