< Exodus 17 >

These are representative events to illustrate God’s greater work of salvation through Christ. Men have a natural propensity to murmur and complain about their lot but the LORD, in his mercy, has provided the means by which we can be saved out of all our distresses. This salvation is effected through his Son Jesus Christ who is represented by the smitten rock. Not only were the Israelites baptized into Moses, as Christians are baptized into Christ, and ate the same spiritual meat, but they “did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ” 1 Corinthians 10:4Waiting for response for 1 Corinthians 10:4

The reason why Moses was commanded to smite the rock with his rod was because this represented the smiting of Christ for the salvation of mankind. Jesus was scourged and crucified for us, and out of him flows the spiritual water, which is the word of God, by which we may live John 7:38Waiting for response for John 7:38

Immediately the water was provided in the wilderness, the people of Israel were attacked by the Amalekites. Water in the desert was literally ‘the water of life’ for which men would fight. The same effect is seen spiritually in that whenever men have freely drunk of the water of life flowing from Christ they have been attacked. The simple imbibing of the word of Life, unfortunately, has this effect and has throughout history brought persecution, torture, and death. We are fortunate in living during times when physical violence is not afflicted on the disciples of Christ, but even today speaking the word of Christ can bring every other form of antagonism. The appropriate reaction of disciples of Christ under attack is to appeal to the LORD in prayer, represented here by Moses holding up his hands during the battle 1 Timothy 2:8.Waiting for response for 1 Timothy 2:8 Moses was not the only one active in this time of distress for companions helped him, even as disciples of Christ are commanded to help one another.