Drink from the ROCK

Have you ever experienced “want”? Have you ever needed something but it was not in reach? I remember one summer I went with my mom and brother on vacation in North Carolina and Tennessee. Beautiful country. On this particular day we had made plans to “hike” up “Grandpa's Mountain.” We had no idea how far this “hike” would take us, and all we took with us were our cameras. Did I mention it was summer and we were hiking up a mountain? After 2 hours of hiking we became very thirsty, however the canisters we carried only had film loaded in them, not water. When we arrived at the top of the mountain…we actually thought there would be some sort of water source…it was truly hard to enjoy the view because of our thirst. I will admit, there was a great deal of grumbling. We longed for water and being the germaphobe that I am, I even thought about tackling a person who had several water bottles just to get drop. We were in “want” of something so common, yet no where to be found.

In the book of Numbers chapter 20, we read about the Israelites grumbling because they are thirsty. This wasn’t the “first” moment of grumbling. They had been wandering for 38 years and were still grumbling. They were given food and drink through their journey and would still get up and grumble, complain, and turn from God.

Let’s set the picture of what is going on here with Moses. He has been wandering for 38 years with this group of people who were on the verge of finally entering the promise land. His sister has just past away and they…again, begin to complain. 38 years God has provided nourishment and water and they are grumbling as if they are going to die with no way of getting water.

Matt talked about parasites that seep into our lives this past Sunday. Do you think they may have had some in their lives, in their souls?

Okay, so Moses and Aaron go to God and He tells them what to do. He tells them to take the staff and SPEAK to the rock to bring forth water.

The next thing we see is Moses taking the glory and then hitting the rock twice to bring forth water. This section has caused more questions and controversy. (which is for another discussion) Listen to what God tells them in verse 12:

"But 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."

What a consequence.

In 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Paul speaks about the History of Israel, what happened in the desert and gives us warnings.

As I think of both passages, my mind comes back to what Matt talked about which brings me to verse 12 & 13:

"So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

Moses allowed a parasite to enter and when he acted on it, it cost him.

I love, however that God tells us that He provides a way out so that we can stand up under it. I love that I am under the grace of God, and because of His grace... that Christ is my anchor, I can STAND UP UNDER IT. I cannot stand firm myself…the Lord God holds me with His strong right hand and pulls me out of that pit.

The Israelites lost sight from the very beginning that their God, our God saved them and had them in the palm of His hand and for 38 years had gone before them in a cloud and pillar of fire, making a way. All they could see is what they thought they “wanted” and were never satisfied.

We were made for eternity, so the things of this world will NEVER satisfy. They drank from the rock and never realized that it was the spiritual rock of Christ. How many times have we drank from the ROCK and walked away grumbling?

A.Thompson

photos by fotosearch.com