Rocks in the Wilderness
“He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.” – Psalms 78:5
With great celebration the Israelites praised the Lord for the victory he wrought over Pharaoh and his hosts in the Red Sea (Exodus 15). However they were soon to face the perils of a desert journey which would sorely test them. Under these tests most would fail, and most would never reach the promised land. The critical problem was a lack of trusting faith in the Lord. “The word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.” (Hebrews 4:2, 1)
These remarks from Hebrews suggest the tests Israel faced in the wilderness are lessons for us, the developing church of God, who are journeying to our spiritual Canaan. The first episode, crossing the Red Sea, pictures the Baptism of the Christian Church into Christ. Just as the Israelites “were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea” (1 Cor. 10:1, 2), so we are baptized into the greater than Moses – our Lord Jesus.
Therefore the experiences Israel faced subsequently may well picture the experiences the church faced in the beginning of their Christian journey. These desert experiences naturally had much to do with food and water, and Paul connects these matters to the spiritual food and drink we appreciate in Christ. They “did all eat the same spiritual meat, and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed: and that Rock was Christ.” (1 Cor. 10:3, 4)
THE FIRST THREE EXPERIENCES
(1) The Israelites journeyed three days journey into the wilderness, and “found no water.” When they reached Marah, further south, they found “bitter” waters, probably meaning brackish, saline, salty water which was therefore undrinkable. Moses sought counsel from the Lord for their dilemma, and God “showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet.” (Exodus 15:23-25)
Whether there was some natural phenomenon at work, with the wood drawing the salinity from the water, we know not. But the solution was of the Lord, and the waters were sweetened. Christians see in this event a picture of the sacrifice of Christ providing the sweet water of life to his followers. The tree reminds us of the wooden cross on which he gave his life, and thus stands for his sacrifice.
“As a result of Adam’s sin there was nothing permanently refreshing for God’s people to partake of. Those who desired to be his people, those who left the world behind them, found a great deal of unsatisfaction, if we may so express it, from the provisions of the law, which brought only condemnation. In due time, however, God caused the death of our Lord Jesus, and through or by means of his death – through the message of the ransom sacrifice – those who drink of this fact, this water, will not find that brackish taste.” (R4602)
Taking the lead of these comments from Bro. Russell, we think the water at Marah pictures the life-giving potential of the Law, but the salt pictures the death the Law really brought because of our sinful natures. The Law with its high standard could not actually bring life because it held no actual remedy for the sin brought by Adam. Even though it was holy, just and good, it brought continued condemnation since its high standard identified our deficiency. (Romans 7:11, 12) (Notice Ezekiel 47:11 where saltwater pictures death also.)
Paul said Christ redeemed the Jews from the curse of the Law, and specifically referred to the tree of crucifixion in this connection. “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, ‘Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.”’ (Galatians 3:13) He removes the salt-curse of the law, “that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” (vs. 14)
(2) Israel next “came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.” (Exodus 15:27) No doubt the water represents the blessings of life and truth in Christ. But different pictures carry different points of emphasis.
The twelve wells show the means by which we access the living water available in Christ. It is from his apostles, chosen as his twelve representatives, that we draw this precious gift. Perhaps the 70 palms show the additional benefit of supplementary teachers and helpers to give rest and shade to the saints, as represented by the 70 disciples Christ sent out as his ambassadors also.
(3) Exodus 16 narrates the sending of manna, which was to be Israel’s food for forty years. “It was… white [pure]; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.” (Exodus 16:31) In John 6:31- 35 Jesus said he was the bread from heaven. The sweet taste of honey pictures the sweetness of our call and hope in Christ. Was it not the sweet honey from the slain lion (of the tribe of Judah) that so impressed Samson? Was it not the sweetness of honey that impressed John as he ate the words of the book? (Rev. 10:10)
THE SMITTEN ROCKS
The Israelites then journeyed to the wilderness of Sin “and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.” (Exodus 17:1) The people again complained and railed against Moses, who brought the matter to the Lord. Moses was told to go to “the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink.” (Exodus 17:6) This Moses did, with a successful result. Here we have a type of the smiting of Jesus – showing his death to be necessary before the waters of life could issue forth.
All of these experiences were early in Israel’s wandering. They were before the giving of the Law (Exodus 19:1, 2), and therefore within the first 50 days following the Exodus. But there was another episode involving the smiting of a rock much later at the end of the wilderness wanderings. That episode is recorded in Numbers 20. The beginning and end of that chapter record the deaths of Miriam and Aaron respectively. The location was not near the wilderness of Sin, in the south of the Sinai peninsula, but in the wilderness of Zin, far north in Kadesh near the entrance to Canaan. Because of the similarity of the episodes, and the similarity of names (Sin, Zin) we at first supposed Exodus 17 and Numbers 20 were two accounts of the same incident. But the context of each event shows otherwise.
Here are some other distinctions.
(1) Exodus 17 – Moses’ attitude was exemplary. Numbers 20 – Moses yielded to frustration, for which he was barred from entering Canaan.
(2) Exodus 17 – Moses was told to strike the rock. Numbers 20 – Moses was told to speak to the rock.
(3) Exodus 17 – Moses’ rod was used (vs. 5). Numbers 20 – probably Aaron’s rod that budded was used (Numbers 20:9 cf Numbers 17:10).
(4) Exodus 17 – the smiting was in the presence of the elders of Israel. Numbers 20 – the whole assembly was involved, and the elders not mentioned.
Clearly the rock is Christ in both cases – and the water of life nourishes the thirsty multitudes in each case. Why, then, two such occurrences? Are there distinctions in these events which foreshadow distinct episodes in the Divine Plan?
Our answer is yes. In God’s plan there are two distinct occasions when the water of life gushes forth to refresh his creatures – first for the church, and later for the world. These two occasions are shown by the first and second episodes – Exodus 17 and Numbers 20 – respectively.
It was necessary that Christ be smitten once, and we drink the refreshing waters as a result. But when it comes time for the world to drink, Christ will not be smitten again. God will then speak to Christ at the proper time, and the waters will gush forth for mankind. The elders of Israel may picture the church who beheld the first smiting. The world will behold the gushing waters the second time. The first occasion was at the outset of the long wilderness wandering, a picture of the Gospel age sojourn of the church. The second was near its close, representing the outset of the kingdom.
Aaron’s rod that budded, used on the second occasion, budded to show God’s elect choice of the priesthood of Aaron. God’s approval of the elect church will be manifested to the world when the church appears in glory with their master. (Romans 8:19) Perhaps this shows the second episode represents an occasion after the church is manifest in glory. (Compare Jeremiah 1:11, 12.)
LET US HEED THE EXAMPLE
The murmuring of the Israelites is legendary. It is an example that stands as a warning to us. God’s providence is always sufficient – our faith, however, sometimes comes short. Let us learn that in every experience, no matter how pressing, our privilege is to exercise faith and trust, and conduct ourselves as Christ would conduct himself. In all things he was submissive, patient, accepting. He never let the difficulties of the way move him from the work of God, or deflect him from the character of God.
Moses was the meekest man in all the earth. Perhaps it was to emphasize the lesson to us of our need of vigilance that God allowed this great man, on this rare occasion, to display a fault under duress. He “forgot himself, and allowed a spirit somewhat akin to pride, self-sufficiency and anger to control him for the moment. Smiting the rock, he cried aloud to the people, ‘Ye rebels, must I bring you water out of the rock?’ The water indeed came forth, as the Lord had promised. The people indeed got the blessing needed, but one of the most illustrious men and servants of God there fell under divine disapprobation.” (R5315)
It would have been better had Moses hidden himself, humbled himself, and asked water from the rock in Jehovah’s name. Elders, and leaders of the Lord’s people, may observe this point with profit. They are not to pose dramatically before the people of God as necessary to the supply of the streams of grace and truth. They are to humbly appreciate their privilege of service, and direct the praise for all blessing to its source – first to God, and secondly to his son and our Lord, Jesus.
– David Rice