Believing and Speaking - The Second Time Water Came Forth From the Rock

There are two times the Bible records God causing water to flow out of the rock in the wilderness. The first time was when the children of Israel first entered the wilderness. Moses was to strike the rock with the rod that turned the river Nile to blood. This appears to represent Christ the rock smitten on the cross. This also appears to represent our water baptism in Jesus name. (See previous post).

The second time God caused water to flow from the rock was at the end of their 40 years in the wilderness. Again, the children of Israel had no water to drink. God told Moses to take the rod, but this time God instructed Moses to speak to the rock for the waters to come forth. (Numbers 20:1-8).

"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? 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." - Numbers 20:10-11 KJV

While the first time God brought water out of the rock it appears to represent Christ being smitten on the cross, the second time God brought water out of the rock appears to represent Christ pouring out His Spirit.

The feast of tabernacles commemorates the miraculous provision of God for the children of Israel in the wilderness, including the rock supplying water. During the feast, water was poured over the altar in a special ceremony.

"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. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (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.)" - John 7:37-39 KJV

"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." - Numbers 20:12 KJV

This appears to be a type of the gift of the Holy Ghost, for it is by BELIEVING AND SPEAKING that we receive the Holy Ghost. Jesus said, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive:” (John 8:24, John 10:38, John 13:19, John 20:25, 1 Thessalonians 4:14, Mark 16:15-16, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Acts 2:4, Acts 10:45-48, Acts 19:5-6, Isaiah 28:11-12).

To be continued…