Musings and Contemplations

Almighty and everlasting God, by whom that begins to be which was not and that which lay hidden is made visible, cleanse away the folly of our heart and purify us from our secret vices, that we may be able to serve you, O Lord, with a pure mind: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.[1]

Water From the Rock

Exodus 17:1-7 NRSV
From the wilderness of Sin, the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?” So, Moses cried out to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” The Lord said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink”. Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

Water is used throughout Scripture as a symbol of faith. In the Old Testament, it sometimes foreshadows Christ’s sacrifice for our sins. In the New Testament, Jesus offers forgiveness to all, regardless of race or past misdeeds, and “living water,” which is the Holy Spirit and eternal life. Through his death, we are reconciled to God, our Creator and King, to whom we offer praise and thanks for our salvation.[2]

Caesarius of Arles
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Take the staff and strike the rock, that it may produce water for the people.” Behold, there is a rock, and it contains water. However, unless this rock is struck, it does not have any water at all. But when it has been struck, it produces fountains and rivers, as we read in the Gospel: “He who believes in me, from within him there shall flow rivers of living water.” When Christ was struck on the cross, he brought forth the fountains of the New Testament. Therefore, it was necessary for him to be pierced. If he had not been struck, so that water and blood flowed from his side, the whole world would have perished through suffering thirst for the word of God.

Warren Wiersbe
The congregation had thirsted before and God had met their needs, but, like people today, they forgot God’s mercy. After all, if they were in the place of God’s leading, it was His responsibility to take care of them. The people criticized Moses and murmured against God. They were actually “tempting the Lord” by their attitude, for they were saying that God did not care and that He would not help them. They were trying His patience by their repeated complaints.

Moses illustrates what the trusting Christian does in the hour of trial: he turned to the Lord and asked for guidance. The Lord instructed him to take his rod and to smite the rock and water would come out. This rock is Christ and the smiting of the rock speaks of Christ’s death on the cross, where He felt the rod of the curse of the law. . . The water is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, who was given after Christ had been glorified.^[3]

Westminster Confession of Faith
Chapter 14, Part 2
“Of Saving Faith”
By this faith, a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word, for the authority of God himself speaking therein; and acteth differently upon that which each particular passage thereof containeth; and embracing the promises of God for this life, and that which is to come. But the principal acts of saving faith are accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.[4]

Heavenly Father, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you: Look with compassion upon the heartfelt desires of your servants, and purify our disordered affections, that we may behold your eternal glory in the face of Christ Jesus; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.[5]

By Faith

Do not live by bread alone, but by the will of God. May God give the angels charge over you; may their hands bear you up and keep you from falling. Amen.[6]

[1] The Gelasian Sacramentary. Ancient Christian Devotional, Year A, p. 81.
[2] Ancient Christian Devotional, Year A, p. 81.
^[3] Warren W. Wiersbe, Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1993), Ex 17:1–7.
[4] From “Truths We Confess,” p. 315.
[5] Prayer for the third Sunday in Lent. Anglican Book of Common Prayer, 2019, p. 606.
[6] The Worship Sourcebook, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, p. 578.