Old Testament Events
The Rock Smitten for Water
Christ the Spiritual Rock
Description
When Israel thirsted at Horeb, Moses struck the rock and water gushed forth. Paul explicitly identifies this rock as Christ: 'That Rock was Christ.' The rock was smitten once, and water flowed—Christ was struck once on the cross, and from His side flowed blood and water. The rock followed Israel through the wilderness, providing continuous water. Christ accompanies His people through their wilderness journey. Later, at Meribah, Moses struck the rock again instead of speaking to it, forfeiting entrance to Canaan. Christ need not be crucified again; we now approach Him by speaking—by prayer.
Key Verses
And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.