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“And all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.” (1 Corinthians 10:4 NKJV)
While journeying from Egypt to Canaan through the wilderness, the children of Israel had their thirst quenched or satisfied twice miraculously by water from the rock (Exo. 17:1-6, Num. 20:1-12). God used that to foreshadow His plan and provision to satisfy the thirst of all wearied souls through Christ Jesus.
The Scripture later reveals that it was not just ordinary water they drank but a spiritual drink and that the rock was not a typical rock but a spiritual Rock, Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 10:4 – NKJV
4 And all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.
Undoubtedly, the gracious provision of water from the rock to satisfy the thirsty children of Israel in the wilderness was a good type or representation of God’s generous provision of everlasting life in and through Christ for all sinners.
Let us consider some parallels.
First, God graciously provided water in the rock for the children of Israel even before they were thirsty or arrived in the wilderness.
Likewise, God has graciously provided the means of salvation for all men even before the advent of sin in the world. The Scripture reveals that Jesus Christ was the Lamb of God prepared to take away our sins from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8, John 1:29).
Second, if God didn’t provide water from the rock for the thirsty children of Israel, they all would die of thirst in the wilderness.
Similarly, if God didn’t provide the means of salvation by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins and give us everlasting life as a gift, we all would die in our sins and our search for salvation.
Anyone who rejects Jesus Christ and His atonement for sins on the cross will die in his sins and his search for salvation.
The Lord Jesus Christ warns the Jews, “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24 NKJV).
The Lord Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6 NKJV).
Religion is not a means of salvation. Neither are good works nor adherence to the laws of Moses.
The Scripture emphatically states that there is salvation in no other except Jesus.
Acts 4:12 – NKJV
12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
Third, the rock had to be struck so that the thirsty children of Israel could have abundant water to satisfy their thirst.
In the same way, Jesus Christ had to be struck, smitten, and crucified on the cross for us to have salvation and all its attendant benefits.
Prophet Isaiah saw that in advance and prophesied thus:
Isaiah 53:3-6 – NKJV
3 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, everyone, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
If Jesus were not stricken, smitten, bruised, wounded, and crucified on the cross for our sins, we would not have everlasting life and have it more abundantly.
John 10:10-11 – NKJV
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”
Fourth, the thirsty children of Israel drank freely and abundantly from the rock. There was no precondition or prerequisite to drinking from the rock God had graciously provided for them.
Their thirst and faith to draw close to the rock in expectation of the water was enough. Once the rock was struck, the water flowed out abundantly, and anyone thirsty could drink freely and abundantly.
Similarly, salvation is free for all men. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross is enough for the entire world to be saved. Therefore, no other sacrifice or work required anyone to drink the water of life (Ephesians. 2:8-9). All it takes is thirst and faith to receive or drink from Christ.
The Lord Jesus publicly announced, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” (John 7:37 NKJV).
John the Beloved writes, “And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” (Rev. 22:17 NKJV).
Beloved, what God is now graciously, freely, and abundantly offering all humanity in and through Jesus Christ infinitely transcends what the children of Israel experienced in the wilderness when they drank freely and abundantly from the rock.
Many Israelites who drank from the rock perished in the wilderness and never reached the Promised Land. But anyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ and receives the gift of everlasting life He offers will never perish, but he will reign with Christ in this life and throughout eternity (John 11:25-26).
Romans 5:17 – NKJV
17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
Friend, are you thirsty for true love, joy, peace, and a loving and intimate relationship with God?
Come to Jesus Christ, the Spiritual Rock, and freely drink the living water!
Jesus assures the Samaritan woman at the well of Jacob.
John 4:13-14 – NKJV
13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again,
14 “but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
Jesus tells you today, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” (John 7:37 NKJV).
What are you still waiting for?
Drink freely and abundantly from the living water today by believing and confessing Jesus Christ as your Saviour and surrendering your whole life to Him as your Lord!
Prayer:
I choose today to drink freely and abundantly from the living water by believing, confessing, and surrendering to Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Saviour, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
OUR mandate is to preserve the faith of the Apostolic Generation.
Eniyekpemi Fidelis Oyinpreyebi.
AWH, Blogs.
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