"Speak to the Rock" Part 2
Then Israel sang this song: "Spring up, O well! Sing about it, about the well that the princes dug, that the nobles of the people sank-- the nobles with scepters and staffs." Then they went from the desert to Mattanah (gifts; rain)..."
(Num 21:17-18)
At the end of Numbers, Moses had definitely "been there, done that" He had the t-shirt in three colors, as a friend used to say.
Sometimes, in a moment of crisis or need, we might be tempted to go on old solutions. What used to work - "this always worked before? Why isn't it working now?"
When you read Numbers 20, you might recall that there was another critical situation that involved thirst, lack of water, murmuring and complaining by the people against Moses – and also, a striking of the rock with a staff.
There are some important things to consider here:
The Book of Exodus records the events in the wilderness - 1 YEAR AFTER THE DEPARTURE FROM EGYPT.
The Book of Numbers records the entire history of the wanderings in the wilderness – 40 PLUS YEARS AFTER THE EXODUS.
The Book of Deuteronomy records the VERY LAST YEAR OF THE WANDERINGS IN THE DESERT - JUST PRIOR TO THE ENTRY INTO CANAAN.
Since these books mirror our own “journeys” of faith. It is important that we know this.
Exodus 20 and Number 17 are two different incidents. In the first, God told Moses to "strike the Rock."
Here are some important things to know about that first Rock Encounter.
It happened at a place called Horeb. Horeb is a Hebrew word which means “a desolate place.” Desolate may be translated variously in English – as: “isolated”, “bleak”, “abandoned”, “forsaken.” (Are you there now? Have you been there?)
As the delivered and adopted children of God, we occasionally come to our very own “Horebs” – where we might feel forgotten by God. Abandoned by him, by friends, by those we love. Horeb is a bleak place. But this story gives us great hope.
I’m going to jump around a bit to compare and contrast what happened at Horeb in Exodus 17 with what happened at Meribah in Numbers 20. Israel was NOT at the same place in these chapters. Horeb is located in the Wilderness of Sin (not the English word for transgression) and Numbers 20 takes place when they were at another region – the Wilderness of Zin. (There is some allegorical meaning in the Hebrew words “Sin” and “Zin” – but I’ll have to save that for later.)
Verse 7 of Exodus 17 tells us that Moses named this location “Massah” - meaning tempting or testing, and “Meribah” which means chiding or strife. The nation came to a difficult place, no water to be found – and they were tested. Their response was not good – they complained, and they fought among each other and with Moses – and ultimately, with God. So God rebukes them.
In Exodus 17:7 – Moses records a very significant observation. Israel asked “Is the LORD among us or not?”
Exodus 17 (strike the rock) and Numbers 20 (speak to the rock) occur about 39 years apart.
They are similar situations – but not the same. Similar situations don’t always have similar solutions. In Exodus 17, God tells Moses to strike the Rock – and water flows out from it. In Numbers 20 – Moses is instructed differently. He is told to “speak to the Rock.”
There are many “types” and “shadows” of “things to come” (Hebrews 10:1) in these stories. All of them have significance to our own walk of faith. Here are just a few things:
The children of Israel is a type of the church.
Moses and Aaron foreshadow spiritual authority and leaders.
Moses’ staff represents delegated authority – given by God to him.
Water represents the Spirit.
The Rock, as we know is Jesus.
Strike the Rock? Or Speak the Rock?
Strike the Rock
In Exodus 17, year one of the departure from Egypt - God commands Moses to “strike the rock.” Striking the rock is a foreshadowing of Jesus suffering as the one “stricken for the transgression of the people.” In Exodus 17, the nation of Israel sinned. They grumbled and complained. God still gave them water. Jesus’ sufferings at the hands of sinful humanity (me and you) produce water and life. When the Roman soldier pierces Jesus’ side in John 19:34 we read “blood and water” flowed out.
Speak to the Rock
In Numbers 20:13, Moses is told to “speak to the Rock” – he disobeys and does his own thing. Here, 39 years later, the people had learned their lesson. This time they didn’t grumble. They sang. They worshiped.
“From there they continued on to Beer, the well where the LORD said to Moses, "Gather the people together and I will give them water." Then Israel sang this song: "Spring up, O well! Sing about it…” (Numbers 21:16-17)
(Ha! Beer! I’m guessing not Miller Lite! "Beer" in Hebrew just means well...of water.)
Israel sings a “new song!” When we finally learn to trust God and pass a test – the Spirit of God produces worship – a “new song!” This is a good one. Worthy of an entire sermon – “spring up, oh well…”
What do we learn from all this?
When we are thirsty feeling desolate, forgotten, isolated – do we “strike the Rock” – relying on the beauty and completeness of Jesus’ finished work on the Cross? Yes.
Sometimes when we are thirsty and feel forgotten, deserted, abandoned and forsaken – do we “speak to the Rock” – yes.
As God.
The Spirit will lead us - if we care to listen.
“A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.…”
Notice the word “leads.”
To be led is to follow. To follow is to listen. To follow is to obey.