The Jesus Bible Reading PlanSample

STRIKING THE ROCK

Despite Israel’s faithlessness, God continued to provide for his people. In this particular instance, God sustained the people by having Moses strike the rock, from which water miraculously began to flow. While this provision was a startling way to provide water, the water itself was normal. The people of Israel would need water again in the future, and God would certainly provide.

In John 4:13 – 14, Jesus responded to a request for water by claiming that he could provide water that would cause a person never to be thirsty again. Jesus would indeed provide this water, but he was not speaking of literal water. Instead, Jesus was referencing the way in which God would provide salvation from sin. In the same way that Moses struck the rock to provide the life-saving water, Jesus was stricken and afflicted on the cross in order to provide the life-giving water of salvation. God struck one rock to provide for the temporary, physical needs of his people, but he struck the second Rock to provide for the spiritual needs of his people.

Jesus, thank you for sustaining me. You always provide, even when I am weak and doubting. Amen.