Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:1-4  Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;  (2)  And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;  (3)  And did all eat the same spiritual meat;  (4)  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

Text: 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.

Introduction:

In this area of scripture, Paul is referring to a time in the Old Testament when the nation of Israel was walking through the wilderness. He says they were “under the cloud” speaking of the manifestation of God’s presence in the form of a cloud that covered them by day.

He says they “all passed through the sea” speaking of crossing the Red Sea. They “did all eat of the same spiritual meat”, not only the manna God provided from Heaven, but the word of God that was preached unto them.

He says they “were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea”. The word baptism means to fully submerge and surround, so the nation of Israel was surrounded by water when they crossed the Red Sea and they were surrounded by the cloud that covered them by day while they walked through the wilderness. God considered these as a form of baptism which represents salvation. As long as they crossed the Red Sea and stayed under the cloud in the wilderness, and under the ministry of Moses or “unto Moses”, they were right where God wanted them to be.

He then brings up the spiritual drink and the spiritual Rock, which was Christ. In the wilderness, it was a physical rock that was used to bring forth water, but it was the Rock Christ Jesus who brought forth water from it, even though it was in the Old Testament.

1) A Physical Rock Giving Physical Water

    a) Numbers 20:7-11  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  (8)  Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.  (9)  And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.  (10)  And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?  (11)  And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.

Moses was told to speak once, but he smote twice. He also took the glory that belonged to God by saying “must we fetch you water out of this rock?” The people did not appear to know that the LORD had spoken these things to Moses, so Moses made it appear as though it were his idea and by his power that he did this!

    b) This would be a determining factor as to why Moses could not lead God’s people into the Promise Land. Numbers 20:12  And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

Anytime we do things outside the will of God to accomplish a goal, we show that we do not truly believe God.

   c) In his song, Moses says in Deuteronomy 32:15  But Jeshurun (a name given to Israel to signify their call to be righteous – Used only four times) …lightly esteemed (or fell away from) the Rock of his salvation.

So, we see that God has always wanted to be the Rock of His people’s salvation, and He used a physical rock both to give physical water and also to represent Jesus Christ who gives living water!

2) A Spiritual Rock Giving Spiritual Water

    a) John 4:10  Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

    b) God’s promise

John 4:13-14  Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:  (14)  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

     c) Someone who had the right response

John 4:15  The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

3) Christ is Still the Rock of Our Salvation

    a) Psalms 62:6  He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.

    b) 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.

    c) Luke 20:17-18  And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected (speaking of Jesus as the Messiah and Christ), the same is become the head of the corner?  (18)  Whosoever shall fall upon that stone (speaking of salvation through faith) shall be broken (meaning their self-will shall be broken); but on whomsoever it shall fall (speaking of the day of judgment), it will grind him to powder (speaking of eternal judgment for the sins they would not allow Christ to wash).

Conclusion:

When we fall by faith onto the Rock Christ Jesus, and trust in Him to be the Rock of our salvation, He will uphold us and give us this water than we thirst no more for the things of the world, but we start to hunger and thirst for His righteousness!