Last week, we started a new series within the larger series called, “The Aleph Tav”. We discovered that the rock God told Moses to strike in order to get water for God’s people was actually Jesus the Messiah!
What happened when Moses struck the rock, aka the Messiah, a second time? Let’s dive into that now!
The Other Time the Rock was Struck
Do you remember the other time the rock was struck by Moses? This was much later, years later in fact.
We pick up the story in Numbers, chapter 20, right after Moses’ and Aaron’s sister Miriam dies.
“Now there was no water for the congregation. And they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. And the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Would that we had perished when our brothers perished before the LORD! Why have you brought the [aleph-tav] assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we should die here, both we and our cattle?
And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring [aleph-tav] us to this evil place? It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink.” Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces.
And the glory of the LORD appeared to them, and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Take the [aleph-tav] staff, and assemble the [aleph-tav] congregation, [aleph-tav] you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the [aleph-tav] congregation and their [aleph-tav] cattle.”
And Moses took the [aleph-tav] staff from before the LORD, as he commanded him. Then Moses and Aaron gathered the [aleph-tav] assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” And Moses lifted up his [aleph-tav] hand and struck the [aleph-tav] rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.
And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this [aleph-tav] assembly into the land that I have given them.” These are the waters of Meribah, where the people of Israel quarreled with the [aleph-tav] LORD, and through them he showed himself holy.” Numbers 20:2-13 (ESV, brackets mine)
Did you all catch the difference in this story compared to the last one? Moses, as a representative of God, was instructed by God to SPEAK to the Rock to bring forth water for everyone.
God was not angry with His covenant people, but Moses was angry with them. Moses, as God’s representative, misrepresented God to them! God is their provider, not Moses. God is gracious and merciful, abounding in steadfast love and mercy. He wanted to again show these covenant people that He was taking care of them.
And since the Rock represented Christ, the Rock had already been struck. It didn’t need to be struck again. Just like Jesus was struck once for all and does not need to be crucified again.
So when Moses struck the Rock twice instead of just speaking to it, he was breaking the incredible symbolism that the Lord was building through this major historic event!
Moses trampled the command of the Lord, misrepresented Him in front of the people as their leader, and was not careful to preserve the Messiah symbolism.
Warning to Us
One of the verses that struck out to me with the presence of the aleph-tav’s is this one:
“And Moses lifted up his [aleph-tav] hand and struck the [aleph-tav] rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.”
Moses’ hand represented the strength of the covenant, the strength of the Messiah, but he used his covenant hand to disobey the command of the Lord. He yelled at the people and then struck the aleph-tav Rock twice, the Rock that represents Jesus Christ.
And Moses paid the consequences for this disobedience. He was not allowed to cross the Jordan River and enter the Promised Land.
There are consequences for disobedience and misrepresenting God. And God may even continue to honor his leadership when they disobey, as happened in this instance. Even though Moses disobeyed with the method, God was faithful to produce the water from the Rock in his grace.
How do you represent God to other people? Are you angry with the people around you even though God is not angry with them?
Do you use your words to curse people or put them down around you, even though Jesus is speaking life over them? Do you curse your own body or your own self with your words when God desires a blessing over your life?
James says it this way:
“With it [the tongue, or our words] we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?” James 3:9-11 (ESV, brackets mine)
Be careful how you represent God to other people. Be careful about the words that you speak and what you come into agreement with.
God desires life for you. He desires to give you living water when you’re spiritually thirsty. All you have to do is speak to your loving Messiah, and he will open up and provide living water for you to drink.
And God desires for you to be like the Rock of Jesus Christ for other people, providing them the living water of the Gospel so that they can live.
Honey From the Rock
Not only does The Rock of Christ provide us with living water, we also get something else.
Take a look at this passage.
“Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes. Those who hate the LORD would cringe toward him, and their fate would last forever. But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” Psalm 81:13-16 (ESV)
There is a sweetness also that comes from the Rock of Jesus Christ. This is something that He provides, not only living water, but also sweet things in life that satisfy you with good.
What About You?
Are you trusting in Jesus Christ as your Rock? Are you looking to Him to provide for you everything you need?
Are you building your life upon the Rock of Jesus Christ? Or are you building your life on the shifting sand of the world?
As a covenant believer in Jesus Christ, are you representing Him well to the people around you?
Are you searching for the sweetness that comes from the Rock of Christ? Are you asking, seeking and knocking on Heaven’s door for answers? Are you drawing closer to the Lord, or are you drifting away from Him?
These are good questions for us to consider as we live out these lives that the Lord has given to us.
Seek after the Lord with all your heart; love Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Press into Him with everything you know. And I promise you: you won’t be disappointed. You’ll be extremely satisfied with His amazing Presence!
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