Water from the Rock [Part 2]

Pastor author and Bible teacher Alan Wright people should be killed for their soon as soon only begotten son of God would come in the flesh that he would be identified as the rock of our salvation. Instead of people being struck with the rod rod of judgment would land upon Jesus Alan Wright into another message of good news that will help you see your life in a whole new light excited for you to hear the teaching today.

In our series called Moses is present in an old church in North Carolina not able to stay with us throughout the entire program to make sure you know how to get our special resource right now. Yours for your donation this month to Alan Wright Ministries so as you listen to today's message. We encourage you to go deeper as we send you today special offer. Contact us at pastoralan.org that's pastor out and.org or call 877-544-4860 that's 877-544-4860.

More on this later in the program but now let's get started with today's teaching here is Alan Wright when you become a parent you have a child is in this mysterious thing that happens you you you are formed into a covenantal relationship with your child. You can't explain it just happened all of a sudden this is my child I am. This child's father and therefore my life is committed to the well-being of this child, and so even when the child is frustrating you when you are in covenantal love relationship you provide. But you probe by because you remember the depth of your love for your child because this is my child. In other words, why did God provide water in the desert. Was it because the people had winding complaint. Absolutely not. The reason that he provided for them. The psalmist says because he remembered Abraham remember how you made a covenant to be the father of a nation be given a land always be your father.

This is going to be my people, and this was what was in the heart of God when he was moved with long-suffering on their behalf instead. That day of judging them. He bless them with water.

Now this word coral is very important and the events that take place are very important to understanding the meaning of this text and why Paul says that Christ was this rock.

The word coral can be used in the Hebrew is a word that means more literally accusation like a legal accusation.

So what the people were doing when they were quarreling against Moses is that they were actually accusing him see their language. They said you have brought us out here to die. So he was being accused of manslaughter.

He was being accused of improper leadership that was leading to their death and so they were in a sense performing a legal accusation. The reason that you can be sure that this is what's going on is because Moses says to God they're about ready to stone me will stoning someone was the punishment that was meted out for anyone convicted of a capital offense and so they were in a sense going to try Moses and stone Moses and kill him. And so it comes that the Lord gives instructions to Moses that make it even more clear.

He first says take some elders with you the elders with the governing authority. The elders were in cases in which there was an accusation. They were the ones to hear the accusation they were the Supreme Court justices. They were the ones who would hear it in a trial.

So the image here again is judicial. It is of a trial this get ready to take place in accusation is been made.

The elders are going to move forward like they are the, the jury, there's going to be a trial there's going to be a judgment as your reading the story what you're thinking.

Here is the judgment is going to come to come against these people who are so faithless was the judgment to come against who is on trial here and it becomes further clear when the Lord says to Moses, take the staff with which you struck the Nile.

I give this very specific information but didn't want to take any staff. I want you to take the staff, the symbolic staff that you had in your hand when you struck the Nile and that water became blood. And when you did that judgment came upon Egypt. That staff was the mark of the ultimate judgment of God that staff that came down upon that water would also be lifted up, the people would be set free and Egyptian army would be judged and swallowed up by the sea. It was the staff of judgment.

It was the ultimate powerful sovereign justice of God and his staff Moses staff was the one that was to be used, to go and strike this rock is owed you can imagine the scene.

Now you've got an accusation got the jaw roars the elders you got the judgment symbol and you're waiting for the people to be judged as you look at this and who's going to be struck down, but then here comes the big surprise. The Lord says I will stand before you at the rock of Mount Sinai. I will go and I'll be there. That rock may be by the pillar of cloud we don't know how the Lord was manifest.

But this word for stand can mean stand as an standstill and subservient like one would be as a verdict is given and starts becoming apparent that the Lord is going to stand there at the rock and that the blow of judgment is not to come down on the people is not a come down Moses to come down on the rock, bringing the blow of judgment upon the rock. The people should be struck down for all of their faithlessness and murmuring, but instead the Lord says I'm gonna go before you, stand right there and I'm then enveloped that rock and you gonna strike that rock people should be killed for their sin, but instead the Lord said, I am going to send my only begotten son, God would come in the flesh, and he would be identified as the rock of our salvation. Instead of the people being struck with the rod of judgment. Rod of judgment would land upon Jesus to be beaten and beaten and scourged's skin would be flayed and he would be nailed to the cross, he would suffocate and he would die under the judgment against sin. He who knew no sin went before us is our rock and he was struck with the rod that should've struck us in all of this took place so that your sin could be cast as far as the east is from the west and so that God could do what is always wanted and that is to pour out his Holy Spirit is always wanted to fulfill all of his covenant promises that you would be his treasured people, a holy nation and a royal priesthood, and that everyone would be filled with the spirit, and all would know the Lord and that there would be no distance between us and God and that you could drink deeply from this amazing fount of grace. And so Christ is the rock and Christ has been smitten for us so that from him, proceeding from the sun would be the outpouring of the Holy Spirit living water that comes gushing forth and by this act of justice of the rock being struck God's mercy would be made known among the people instead of letting judgment fall upon the people God said, let it fall upon me. That's the way living water.

That's what the stories about once you know that you can fast-forward years ahead to numbers chapter 20 and here, the people are back and they've proven themselves to be evermore faithless and come back to this same spot it. Mirabal and the people are thirsty again and they quarrel again and they complain again and Moses and Aaron, the high priest's brother going get on their face before the Lord at the tent of meeting with the Shekinah glory of God comes upon that the Lord says to him, says, okay, here's what you do take the rod from the tent of meeting and go and just speak to the rock and tell it bring forth water, but instead when he gets there. Moses is angry and you see his language.

He says so you rebels as his language you want some water okay will get some water strikes the rock. She strikes the water comes out that talent right will have more teaching in a moment. Today's important series like something is holding you back if you lack an important scene that could change everything. Is there someone you love hissing stock held. What's missing blessing on faith filled vision spoken over you can learn how to embrace the will practice a blessing to Pastor Alan writes knew the power to Blacks, which quickly became an enzyme number one best seller. After 370s until now the hardcover book has only been available through retail sales this month right ministries once send you the I thank you for your Denilson make your gift today discovered the power to Blacks. The gospel is shared when you get to Alan Wright Ministries. This broadcast is only possible because of listener financial support. When you get today. We will send you a special offer.

We are happy to send this to you as I banks from Alan Wright Ministries, seven 877-544-4860 877-544-4861 come to our website pastor out and got work in today's teaching now continues your once again is part of the reason the Lord doesn't allow Moses to go into the promised land is that he disobeyed.

That's certainly certainly part of it. Anybody that has been walking with God as long as Moses had she clearly heard the Lord say speak to the rock don't strike the rock, partly because maybe Moses didn't have faith that he could just speak to the rock of all that's going on what one elder this one same part of this to him is as you walk with the Lord you should grow.

There might be that Moses just hadn't growing still in the old same pattern of thought, all of that is all that's part of this, but there's something else we show you a couple of distinctions between the story in Numbers 20 and the story in Exodus 17 because are very important. There's a different word useful rock managed in Exodus 17. The word is Sir transliterated as you are.

It means by the big rock so sums were big rock formation at the base of Mount Sinai.

But the word that is used in Numbers 20 is the word see law which in Hebrew means a cliff and high lifted up rock in Exodus 17.

It was a big rock in Numbers 20.

The rock is high and lifted up the rock is Christ, and now Numbers 20 this picture of Christ is envisioned as lifted up exalted ascent that's interesting. And then this we have to to a certain degree and for this, but the more I read the text. The more plain it seems to me Moses used the wrong staff wises important Aaron high priest had a rod that in another instance of maybe sometime will get a chance to look at that story which it miraculously, but it a picture of resurrection life a picture of of God's capacity to bring life out of nothing is all of this in Aaron's rod that but it and because this rod, but it supernaturally. It became a living symbol for them and they kept it at the ark of the covenant in the tent of meeting. So where the presence of the Lord was considered symbolically was at the ark of the covenant in the heart holy place in the tent of meeting, and there also was Aaron's rod to go back in Numbers 20 you see what happened here was Moses and Aaron were on their faces before the Lord and then the Lord says take the rod and then go speak to the rock well the rod that was spoken of, was evidently Aaron's rod because the text says that he took the rod from the presence of the Lord is in Numbers 20, he took the rod out from the presence of the Lord is. That was the rod that he was taking, but when he strikes the rock, you'll see that the text says that Moses took his staff. I think this is what happened.

I think that he was told by the Lord to take the symbol of life and resurrection and go and hold it and then speak to the rock.

But when he got there, Moses fell into an old pattern, and you get angry and he set aside Aaron's rod and he took his staff the same staff that is struck the Nile the same staff that it brought judgment on Egypt. The same staff that are brought judgment on the rock.

In Exodus 17 and he brought that staff of judgment and he came down he struck the rock with the rod of judgment, instead of speaking to a rock with the staff of life and resurrection really stands out. So what is all the same.

In this scene in Numbers Lord doesn't tell them to take the elders because there's not a trial there's there's not a judgment that is coming instead God was painting on the landscape of history, a portrait of Christ, who is our rock and in the first scene in Exodus what we see symbolically is that the rod of judgment comes down and lands upon the rock instead of the people, and out of that active judgment against the rock. Then the water comes forth, but in Numbers 20 the message is clear. The rock does not need to be struck again.

There is no need to smite this rock again. There is no need for Jesus to be crucified again.

Jesus is no longer just the rock to be smitten. He is the exalted one, high and lifted up, and he has gone into the heavenly once and for all, having shed his own blood for the forgiveness of our sins and sprinkled it into the heavenly tabernacle once and for all. There is never ever ever going to be a need for Jesus to be sacrificed again because the sacrifice was complete because Jesus said on the cross furnished, which means that not only does Jesus need do nothing to add to that finished work but you and I need do nothing to add to the finished work. You don't have to strike a rock. You don't have to crucified Jesus again. You don't have to do anything on your first date. Just speak to the rock because he has already completed and already paid the whole price so every time that we tried to get something from God by our own righteousness. Every time we think that is by my own self claims of my own pitiful nature and all my awful sin in all this we are dishonoring the cross of Jesus Christ. Because Jesus is sitting on the throne of the habit of having imputed righteousness to you and so Moses strikes the rock and it's like he is trying to bring judgment that is already been brought and you don't need to strike the rock when you don't need to strike the body of Christ and you don't need to strike yourself.

You don't need to because Jesus has already paid it all. I think that's why God said you not going from slim the promised land is about living water that has calm because of grace that is already been poured out there is for you today beloved and assurance that because Jesus took the rod of judgment that living water is flowing from the rock. So what's left to do thirsty people drink drink get in that water splash around in that water be immersed in the water be refreshed in that water be filled with that water drink drink drink deeply. I think of a Samaritan woman at the well and Jesus said to this woman whose life had been so riddled with sin so riddled with mistake after mistake after mistake in adultery after adultery of adultery and all that is going on in her life. And Jesus said to her, if you knew who you were talking to you what I asked him for living water, and he would've given it to you if you just speak to me and asked me I will give you what you want. The Bible makes it so clear and so plain and so simple that sometimes we stumble over well. Most we should be more complicated. Give me some steps give me a rock to strike.

Give me something to do but instead, Jesus just ask and you will see speak to me speak to me and you will receive drink because the rock has already been struck in the water is now flowing and that the gospel Allen based teaching water from the wrong blessing your life. Grace filled vision for your rights, free grace and encouragement. Allen writes a daily blessing. It's free. Just a quick pastor I got away feel like something is holding you back if you lack an important scene that could change everything. Is there someone you love hissing stock to help them out what's missing blessing.

We all need filled vision spoken over you can learn how to embrace the will practice a blessing to Pastor Alan writes new book, it's a blast, which quickly became an Amazon number one bestseller after 370s until now the hardcover book has only been available through retail sales this month right ministries once send you the I thank you for your donation. Make your gift today and discovered the power to bless the gospel is shared when you get Allen right ministries. This broadcast is only possible because of listener financial support. When you get today.

We will send you a special offer. We are happy to send this to you as I thanks from Allen right ministries, seven 877-544-4860 877-544-4861 come to our website pastor out and got work. Would you say Allen did for someone who's listening right now may be confused. Maybe not knowing why they're not at the at the end goal or at the Victorino's position that may be that's not the point right now in the here and now's the point. Yeah, well, you often as we find ourselves in this in the spot of Moses. I feel like what I haven't really not be allowed into the promised land. Here is the amazing news of the gospel you accept Christ you're already declared in the promised land. Yuri declared blessed with every spiritual blessing. There's not something else that has to happen in this world you have troubles, but you need to be assured of this God is not withholding his grace from you and the reason is that God doesn't need to strike you. Christ is Artie been struck and that really is the point of the foreshadowing.

It goes on the story of Moses striking the rock were later told that rock is Christ, and he has already been struck with the blows that should've come upon us, but instead Christ died in our place.

And anyone who accepts him in Christ is blessed already.

Given the promised land. If this one of those things that sometimes when you see a text or story in the Bible and it really really bothers you that used to be my life.

I just okay. I gloss over that I can't figure that out, but now something really really bothers me.

I pay special attention to it because the gospel itself is scandalous.

It should really bother us that an innocent man died.and so in today one of those tags where why is God not let Moses go in and it's exciting when you dig into this and see what's behind today's good news message production Allen right ministries