The Cross Throughout the Scriptures - Part 8

1. The Cross Appears, Gen 3:15.

2. The Foreshadowings of the Cross in Abel’s Lamb, Gen 4.

3. The Flood Is a Type of the Cross, Gen 6-8.

4. Mount Moriah Points to the Cross, Gen 22.

5. The Lamb Without Blemish, Exo 12.

6. The Red Sea Is a Type of the Cross, Exo 14.

7. The Bitter Waters of Marah Sweetened by the Tree, Exo 15.

8. The Stricken Rock of Horeb, Exo 17.

The too much water test at the Red Sea, Exo 14:9.

The wrong kind of water test - the waters of Marah = bitterness, Exo 15:23.

The “no water test,” Exo 17:1.

Every test is a glorious opportunity to trust the Lord in a hopeless situation and to recognize once again that we are really helpless.

They rejected the authority of their leader, but they demanded that he give them water.

If the Jews reject the authority of Moses, why do they ascribe to him the supernatural power of providing water for 2,000,000 people and their children?

They ascribe to Moses a power that he does not possess, while rejecting the authority he does possess.

Mat 26:45 Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Luk 22:14 And when the hour had come He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him.

Joh 12:23 “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”

kal imperative - nathan = they demanded it.

Fear, worry, anxiety, anger, hatred, violence and murder.

Grumbled = kal imperfect - luwn = to grumble, to complain, to criticize.

In their irrationality from emotional sins and hysteria, they assign to Moses their very own motivation and flaws.

Leadership cannot afford to be frightened in a pressure situation.

He does not try to justify himself before the people.

Locked-in arrogance causes this great flaw, self justification.

Moses is not responsible to the people; he is responsible to the Lord.

In leadership, if you are afraid of anyone under your command, you have failed as a leader.

He was to take the very staff he struck the Nile river with - to remind them of all the Lord had already done, but they forgot.

Deu 32:18 “You neglected the Rock who begot you, and forgot the God who gave you birth.”

Psa 78:11 And they forgot His deeds, and His miracles that He had shown them.

Psa 106:13 They quickly forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel.

Psa 106:21 They forgot God their Savior, Who had done great things in Egypt,

Hos 13:6 As they had their pasture, they became satisfied, and being satisfied, their heart became proud; therefore, they forgot Me.

Horeb is the place where Moses saw the burning bush, so he is right back on old ground.

The staff = the judgment of God.

The striking of the rock = TLJC being struck on the cross.

1Co 10:4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.

Why was it used on this particular occasion at Meribah, which means to murmur, complain, rebel etc.?

To remind the Jews that their sins and failures had been judged on the Cross, and they could recover from their murmuring and complaining if they chose to.

Isa 55:1 Ho! every one who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.

Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “come.” and let the one who hears say, “come.” and let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.

Psa 78:20 Behold, He struck the rock, so that waters gushed out, and streams were overflowing;

Joh 7:37 “If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.”

Luk 20:17 What then is this that is written, “The stone which the builders rejected, This became the chief corner stone”?

Zec 13:7 “Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, And against the man, My Associate,” Declares the Lord of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd that the sheep may be scattered;”

Mar 14:27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, because it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.’”

It all points to the same astounding fact: in the cross of Christ healing streams of eternal life flow forth for all mankind.

Joh 19:34 but one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water.

Joh 19:36 For these things came to pass, that the Scripture might be fulfilled,

We all have some thirst and are consumed by it, Ecc 3:11.

9. The Rock Stricken Again - A Mistake on the Part of Moses, Num 20.

The efficacy of the work of Christ on the cross.

Moses had done a terrible thing in giving an erroneous view of the Cross with its once and for all consummation of the infinitely glorious work of redemption.

Rom 6:10 For the death that He died, He died to sin, once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.

Heb 10:10 By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries 2002