Sunday, as we gather to worship and to share Holy Communion, we will be in Exodus 17:1-7.\u00a0 The short story is:
\nGod’s people are thirsty; they blame Moses; Moses complains to God about THEM; God tells Moses to strike a certain rock; Moses does; Water flows!\u00a0 In the new testament we read that Christ is that rock (1 Corinthians 10).<\/p>\n
The Bible often refers to God as a Rock. He is \u201cthe Rock of Israel\u201d (Gen.
\n49:24; cf. Isa. 30:29), \u201cthe Rock . . . [whose] works are perfect\u201d (Deut.
\n32:4), the Rock who is a \u201cfortress\u201d and a \u201crefuge\u201d (Ps. 18:2). He is \u201cthe Rock
\nof our salvation\u201d (Ps. 95:1; cf. Deut. 32:15). In keeping with this imagery, the
\nrock that Moses struck with his rod was a symbol of God and his salvation.<\/p>\n
In particular, it showed how God would submit to the blow of his own justice The judgment that Christ received on the cross is the proof of
\nso that out of him would flow life for his people.
\nGod did this in the person of his own Son. The rock was Christ because
\nlike the rock, Christ was struck with divine judgment. This is what happened
\nto him on the cross. Christ was bearing the curse for our sin; so God
\nstruck him with the rod of his justice. The Scripture says, \u201cHe was pierced<\/em>
\nfor our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment<\/em>
\nthat brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed\u201d<\/em>
\n(Isa. 53:5).<\/p>\n
\nour protection. It shows that we will not suffer eternal death for our sins. God
\nhas taken the judgment of our guilt upon himself, and now we are safe for
\nall eternity.<\/p>\n