Moshe and the Rocks

While the people of Israel were out in the desert wondering around, they became restless and worried about the lack of water. They were thirsty and their live stock was in need of water. They where about to stone Moshe. Moshe cried out to G-d, What am I to do with these People, they are about to stone me. This was a problem for Moshe, and he was probably scared, I am sure I would be just a little word if I had that many people to take care of that were annoyed with me.

In Exodus 17:5- 6 Adonai answered Moshe, “Go on ahead of the People, and bring with you the leaders of Israel. Take your staff in your hand, the one you used to strike the river; and go. I will stand in front of you there on the rock of Horev. You are to strike the rock and water will come out of it, so the people can drink”. Moshe did this in the Sight of the leaders of Israel. Moshe struck the rock and water came out. Yeshua had referred to him self as the living water in the New Testament. The rock was struck, and Yeshua was beaten. This is a foreshadow of Yeshua, and what would happen to Yeshua. Yeshua is often referred to as the Rock of our Salvation.

Adonai provide for his people, Moshe only had to listen to Him and do what He instructed and the people were provided the living water for them and their cattle. Adonai provided food also during the whole time that Israel was out in the wilderness. It most have been hard traveling in the wilderness being lead by a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Adonai showed himself compassionate, slow to anger, and fair, but as humans Israel need many reminders of this from Adonai. I know I need reminders a lot..

Later the people became upset again because they did not have water, and started grumbling again. Moshe went to Adonai again. Adonai instructed him what to do but told him to speak to the Rock. Speak meaning Moshe should not hit it, he is to simply ask it for water and than Adonai would bring forth the water out of the rock.

Moshe called the people of Israel together in Numbers Numbers 20, instead of asking the Rock for water like he was instructed he became angry. He struck the Rock, he called the people rebels. Moshe was showing a very human response to the pressure he felt from the people. He wasn’t being slow to anger, and he wasn’t being compassionate. He was not listening to Adonai instruction and he did not represent Adonai properly. He used Adonai name in vane because he was representing Adonai.

Now I am not trying to be hard on Moshe, because to be honest I see him as a hero, as someone we could learn a lot from…. But all hero’s and men of G-d do sometimes fall short of Adonai glory. Moshe Striking the Rock caused him not to be able to bring the people to the promise land. This was a pretty serious punishment for losing his temper and probably yelling at the people of Israel.

Moshe was supposed to speak to the Rock, I believe because the second time he was at the Rock for water was a representation of Yeshua. The second time Yeshua comes back he will not be struck, he will be spoke to probably in the utmost respect of him. People will not treat him poorly

The second time Moshe was at the Rock this was to be a foreshadowing of Yeshua return.