That Rock was Christ

Upon This Rock I Will Build My Church

The Bible says that the Rock in the wilderness was Christ.

"And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." - 1 Corinthians 10:4 

The Bible records that Moses smote this Rock on two different occasions. Each time he smote the Rock, water flowed out, supplying life sustaining water to the thirsty Israelites. 

The first time appears to be a type and shadow  of water baptism in Jesus name; 

When God told Moses to smite the Rock, He told him to smite the Rock with the rod that turned the Nile river to blood. (Exodus 7:20,17:5-6).

Thus, there was the remembrance of blood when the water flowed out.

Blood and water flowed from Jesus the Rock for water baptism:

"But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water." - John 19:34 

When we are water baptized in the name of Jesus, there is the remembrance of blood that He shed for us for the remission of sins. (Matthew 26:28, Acts 2:38).

The second time Moses smote the Rock, appears to be a type and shadow of baptism of the Holy Ghost speaking in tongues.

Jesus told the woman at the well, "...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." - John 4:10, 14

"In the last day, that great day of the feast, [when water out of the rock in the wilderness was remembered] 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 

God told Moses to SPEAK to the Rock for water to flow out. (Numbers 20:8).

When we receive the Holy Ghost we must speak and believe God for His sanctifying Spirit. (Mark 16:16, Romans 15:16).

"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:4 

Moses did not speak and believe God the second time when the Rock gave forth His water. Instead he struck the rick twice with his rod.

"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 

Thus, when Jesus said, “Upon this rock I will build my church,” He was speaking of building His church upon Himself, the smitten rock out of which would flow water and the Spirit. (John 3:5). The gospel. (Acts 2:38).

The gates of hell cannot withstand it!