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GOOD NEWS FROM THE REDEEMER
April 21, 2001 RADIO MESSAGE #368
Christ in Exodus #61
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"Then all the congregation of the children of Israel set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sin, according to the commandment of the LORD, and camped in Rephidim" (v.1a). What happened to Israel at Rephidim, and its spiritual relationship to our own lives, will here occupy our attention.
I. Israel found no water at Rephidim (v.1b): "there was no water for the people to drink."
Likewise, we will find no water in this world to satisfy our spiritual thirst. All the world's wealth, possessions, fame, learning, pleasures, or whatever else is in this world will not slake this thirst. All the world's cisterns are broken. All its wells are dry holes. All its oases are mirages. All this world has to offer to satisfy our spiritual need is, in the words of Solomon, "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity" (Ecclesiastes 1:2, 14; 2:19; 3:19; 12:8).
II. Israel resorted to Moses for water (v.2f): "Therefore the people contended with Moses, and said, 'Give us water, that we may drink.' ..." This was a logical move on their part. Was he not their leader?
Likewise, people today are resorting to Moses for water. By this we mean they resort to the law and commandments of God which are identified with Moses (Joshua 23:6; John 1:17; et.al.). They think that if they can but obey Moses' law and commandments they will find salvation for their souls.
III. Moses acknowledged to Jehovah his own inability to satisfy Israel's thirst (v.4): "So Moses cried out to the LORD, saying, 'What shall I do with this people?' ..." This was a logical move on Moses' part. He knew his own inadequacy to satisfy Israel's need.Likewise, Moses yet today is incapable of satisfying our spiritual thirst (Romans 3:20): "by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in [God's] sight." Proof of this is found in the scribes and the Pharisees, the foremost keepers of Moses' law. Christ declared "that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20).
IV. Moses was commanded by Jehovah to strike a rock whence would flow water which would satisfy Israel's need (vv.5f): "...you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink." Paul the apostle writes of this event: "... all our fathers ... drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ" (1 Corinthians 10:1-4) (That "spiritual drink" was water supplied in a supernatural manner for physical relief. Manna was for the same manna called "spiritual food" in verse 3. Verse 5 evidences that this water and food was not that for the soul which resulted in spiritual salvation.)
Likewise, Moses has stricken the Rock whence flows spiritual water which satisfies the thirst of all who drink it.
1. "That Rock was Christ." Christ is the Rock: the Rock of Israel (Genesis 49:24), the Rock of salvation (2 Samuel 22:47), the Rock of strength (Psalm 62:7), the Rock of refuge (Psalm 94:22), the Rock upon which His church is built (Matthew 16:18).
2. Christ the Rock was stricken by Moses (Lamentations 3:1): "I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of His wrath." These words apply to Christ on Calvary as the Surety of His elect, bearing in His own body their sins, and suffering all the penalty which the law of Moses required (Isaiah 53:4-6ff).
3. From Christ the stricken Rock flows waters which satisfy the spiritual thirst of sinners. In Him Jehovah has kept His promise, "When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongues fail for thirst, I the LORD, will hear them; I the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will open rivers in desolate heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water" (Isaiah 41:17f). He now invites us, "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters" (Isaiah 55:1). And Christ invites us, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink" (John 7:37). "And the Spirit and the bride say. 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' And let him who thirsts come. And whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely" (Revelation 22:17).