The High Price of a Wrong Turn
It’s difficult to understand God denying Moses entry into the promise land by one act of striking the rock twice rather than speaking to it. Moses was exhausted and angry with the people, with their continued complaining at every turn. God Himself became angry with the people and was going to destroy them and Moses interceded on their behalf.
I think there is a much bigger story here. In today’s journalism we would call it breaking news.
The Hebrew scholar, Paul the apostle, breaks the news.
1 Corinthians 10:4 NLT “…and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ.”
What are the implications of striking the rock twice, knowing this rock is Christ?
Hebrews 9:25-28 NLT. And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. [26] If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice.
[27] And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, [28] so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.
At the beginning of their wilderness journey, Moses was instructed by God to strike the rock. Exodus 17:6 NLT “I will stand before you on the rock at Mount Sinai. Strike the rock, and water will come gushing out. Then the people will be able to drink." So Moses struck the rock as he was told, and water gushed out as the elders looked on.”
Jesus was struck one time for the sins of the human race. Striking the Rock twice would suggest we can come back to the cross again and again to renew ourselves. On the cross Jesus said, “It is finished.”
Numbers 20:8 AMP. “Take the rod; and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rock in front of them, so that it will pour out its water. In this way you shall bring water for them out of the rock and let the congregation and their livestock drink [fresh water].”
So what should we do when we sin? REPENT!
Pastor Mike
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