Jesus, our Rock of abundance

Exodus 17:6: “Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.” (NKJV)

When Moses was leading the Israelites through the desert, they became thirsty and complained that they want water. Moses then prayed to God and God instructed Moses to strike a rock and water will flow from the rock.

The rock that was struck typifies Jesus and the punishment He took for us so that we can receive His abundance in life.

1 Corinthians 10:4: “and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.” (NKJV)

Jesus was struck before He was crucified and He took every sickness and curse upon Him so that we can have a life filled with divine health—a life in abundance through Him (John 10:10). The waters that flow from the rock are compared to the rivers of living waters we receive through the Holy Spirit.

John 7:38-39: “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.” (NIV)

The water God gave the Israelites at Mount Horeb typifies the water He gives us today through His Holy Spirit.

John 4:14: “but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (NIV)

These rivers of living water flow from Christ, who is the rock smitten by the Law of Moses, for he was made under the law. No law or effort, nothing can supply our needs and satisfy our desires like the waters that flow out of this Rock of Christ. The waters that flow from Jesus are like a fountain of grace and life. It quenches our thirst like no other water can. It brings delight to our souls and refreshes our spirits, all because of the Rock it flows from.

Maretha Retief

Illustration by Jeanne de Villiers