From: Ken Blue
To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Subject: THE ROCK
THE SMITTEN ROCK
My dear brother, it appears to me that JEHOVAH, Himself, is the Rock
described in the Old Testament, rather than the nation of Israel.
Deuteronomy 32:3-4 " I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye
greatness unto our God. 4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all
his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and
right is he."
In verse 18 of the same chapter, we discover that it is
the Rock that called forth the nation of Israel.
Deuteronomy 32:18 "Of
the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that
formed thee."
Once again in verse 30 He is called the Rock. Deuteronomy
32:30 "How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to
flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?"
This title for the LORD GOD was understood by the prophet Samuel. He
declares that their is none like our ROCK. 1 Samuel 2:2 "There is none
holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any
rock like our God."
2 Samuel 22:32 "For who is God, save the LORD? and
who is a rock, save our God?" 2 Samuel 23:3 "The God of Israel said, the
Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling
in the fear of God." See also, Psalm 18:2, 31, 46; 61:2; 92:15.
There are many other references to the fact that JEHOVAH is the ROCK.
This would certainly explain why Moses received the severe treatment for
disobedience. Not only did he not display proper leadership to the
nation, he also desecrated a marvelous and intended type.
It is obvious that JEHOVAH was going to be rejected by His people.
Zechariah 12:10 "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and
they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for
him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for
him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn."
This "piercing"
speaks of His rejection in His incarnation. He is the ROCK of stumbling
and offense that was to come and be rejected.
Isaiah 8:14 "And he shall
be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of
offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the
inhabitants of Jerusalem.."
Peter sees the rejection of the Messiah the
fulfillment of this passage. 1 Peter 2:7 "Unto you therefore which
believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone
which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,"
The ROCK was to be "smitten" and the waters of life would flow from it
to the nation. Moses obeyed and the waters came forth. However, there
was no need for a second smiting of the ROCK. Once was enough.
Thereafter, the only requirement was to "speak to it" and the water
would be supplied.
We are told that this ROCK was CHRIST. 1 Corinthians 10:4 "And did all
drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock
that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." Jesus Christ "was
wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the
chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are
healed." (Isaiah 53:5). He was "pierced" and smitten on Calvary. The rod
of JEHOVAH fell on Him. There is no need for Him to be smitten again. In
fact, to do so, displays full unbelief in His finished work on the
cross.
All one must do now is "speak" to the ROCK and "living waters" will
come
forth. This truth is assured by Paul. Romans 10:9-13 "That if thou shalt
confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart
that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with
the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation. . . 12 For there is no difference
between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto
all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the
Lord shall be saved."
The great leader, Moses, may not have understood the significance of the
type. The manna was typical of the LIVING BREAD. The rod that budded was
a type of the RESURRECTION of the Lord Jesus Christ. The ROCK became
flesh that it might be "smitten" for the people's salvation.
John 7:37-40 "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. 38 He
that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall
flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which
they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet
given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) 40 Many of the people
therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the
Prophet." "The Prophet" is the one spoken of by Moses.
Deuteronomy 18:15
"The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of
thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;"
Because Moses "smote" the rock the second time, he was forbidden to
enter the promised land and see the fulfillment of the promises. When
Christ came, He too was "smitten" and rejected by His own as the
prophets had foretold. While He was on the cross, He prayed for Israel's
forgiveness. It was granted and a second opportunity was granted theme.
That second offer is explained in the early part of the ACTS of the
Apostles. Instead of "Speaking" to the ROCK and receiving salvation from
the resurrected Savior, they smote Him again in His representatives.
This was their second act of disobedience. Like Moses, they too,
forfeited their possession of the promised land and the blessings of
Pentecost.
We rejoice that the STONE that was rejected will become the "CHIEF
CORNER STONE." He is to return again! He will be a ROCK of Salvation to
all who have put their trust in His finished work on the cross. Those
who reject the smitten ROCK will find Him to be a "crushing" STONE when
He returns.
Luke 20:17-18 "And he beheld them, and said, What is this
then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is
become the head of the corner? 18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone
shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to
powder."
God Bless you,
Pastor Ken Blue
**********************************************************************
To educate, train and equip for study both the Jew and
Non-Jew in the Rich Hebraic Heritage of our Faith.
Please visit the Hebraic Roots Global Network
Web Site located at:
http://www.hebroots.org/
Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int'l