The Rock

The Rock: Bible Study (Key Text: 1 Corinthians 10: 1-4,11) 1. Rock is THE Source of Moral Certainty (Law): 1 Corinthians 10: 1-4,11 – Israelites baptized into Moses/cloud/sea, all ate the same spiritual food & drank from same spiritual rock - Christ - and the Rock followed them. Ex. 24:9-12-Moses/Aaron/70 elders see God (and live)-clear Sapphire pavement/stone UNDER His feet - God calls Moses up to receive the tables of stone. Deut. 4:13, 9:9

- Tables of stone = 10 Commandments = God's Covenant

2 Chron. 5:10/Ex. 25:21-22 - Tables of stone/covenant placed in the Ark BELOW God's Shekinah Glory on the Mercy Seat ('Ark of the Covenant') Ezekial 1:1-6,15-17,26-28; 10:1-22 - Ezekial sees God/Jesus (cf. Rev. 1:13-18) on Sapphire throne above creatures ('Cherubim') and wheels Daniel 7:9 - Daniel sees God on His fiery throne which has wheels of fire 1 Chron. 28:18 - Ark of the Covenant is a model of 'the chariot' = God's throne Ex. 24:12 - Original Hebrew can be translated as saying that God gave Moses 'tables of the stone' rather than 'the tables of stone' • • •

The only 'stone' referenced in that passage is the blue sapphire stone pavement under God's feet which Ezekial identifies as God's Throne! God's sits above His throne, God's glory rested on the Mercy Seat above the 10 commandments in the Ark of the Covenant God cut the 10 commandments out of His blue sapphire throne

Num. 15:37-40 - Israelites were to wear BLUE tassels on their their robes to remind them of God's (Blue) 10 commandments (specifically reminding them not to follow their own eyes & heart and play the 'harlot' – spiritual adultery) Luke 8:44 - Woman with 12 year hemorrhage touches the fringe = tassel of Jesus' robe and is healed (sinners can come to the throne of God and find healing) (cf. Hebrews 4: 15-16) Ex. 39:1-5– God specifies the colors of High priest's robe = Red, Purple, Gold and BLUE Rev.17:3-5 - Harlot's (false church’s) robe = Red, Purple and Gold…...NO BLUE! Rev. 12:12-17 - God's faithful followers in the end will be those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus. Heb. 1:8 - Jesus/God's throne is eternal Matt. 5:18-19 - Jesus/God's law is eternal......10 Commandments (God's Eternal Law) were cut out of the Blue Stone of God's Eternal Throne. Ex. 20:6 - Old Testament.....those who love God keep His commandments.

Deut. 5:10 - Old Testament.....those who love God keep His commandments. John 14:15 – New Testament…Jesus says that if we love Him we will keep His Commandments. Thus the 10 Commandments are still valid and relevant for Christians today. They are our Source of Moral Certainty.

2. Rock is THE Source of Living Water (Grace & Eternal Life): 1 Corinthians 10: 1-4, 11 – Israelites were baptized into Moses/cloud/sea, all ate the same spiritual food & drank from same spiritual rock – Rock is Christ - and the Rock followed them. Ex. 17:1-6 – Israelites journey out of the ‘Wilderness of Sin’ to Rephidim and have nothing to drink….God instructs Moses to stand on ‘the rock’ at Horeb (Sinai) and strike the rock…..water flowed from the rock. Ps. 105:41 – Water flowed out of the rock like a river. Num. 20:6-12 – God instructs Moses to SPEAK to the rock….Moses STRIKES the rock instead & loses out on the right to enter Canaan (Jesus was ‘struck’ once) Deut. 32:3-4, 12-20 – God is the Rock who provided for His people, but they worshipped other gods and He hid His face from them. John 4:7-14 – Jesus offers Samaritan woman springs of ‘Living Water’ for ‘Eternal Life’ John 7:2, 37-39 – Jesus offers Himself as ‘Living Water’ at Feast of Booths/Tabernacles The Feast of Tabernacles was a remembrance celebration of the wilderness wandering when God led His people out of Egypt, fed them manna and gave them water from the rock (Lev. 23:33-44). Jesus chose the great day of this feast to proclaim that He is the source of living waters. The Pool of Siloam was fed by the living spring farther up in the narrowest part of the Kedron Valley...When the Temple-procession had reached the Pool of Siloam, the priest filled his golden pitcher from its waters...[Arriving at the temple] There were two silver funnels here, with narrow openings, leading down to the base of the altar. Into that at the east, which was somewhat wider, the wine was poured, and, at the same time, the water into the western....We can have little difficulty in determining at what part of the services of the last , the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, “If any one thirst, let him come unto Me and drink.” Alfred Edersheim, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, Vol. 2 pages 158 and 160.

The streams of water (grace) and wine (blood/law) would unite as one and pour into the Gihon spring which flows from the Temple mount. This empties into the Kidron which flows to the Dead Sea — the lowest spot on earth. Eze. 47: 1-8. 12 - Ezekiel sees a river of life flowing from the sanctuary toward the East. In his vision the water gets deeper and deeper, and everywhere it flow it brings dead things to life until finally it reaches the Dead Sea - the lowest spot on planet earth. Note that the river has its source in the sanctuary. 1. Cor.10:4/Jn.19:34 – Jesus is the Rock. On the cross, both blood and water flowed from Him. Rev. 22: 1-5 - The River of Life flows from the throne of God and the Lamb in Heaven.

The Rock is Our Source of Living Water (Grace & Eternal Life)!