As long as Israel followed the cloud, the rock followed them! Submission to God's leadership guarantees His provision. The Jewish Haggadah contains an ancient story, believed and taught by the Jews, that the Rock actually followed behind them as they journeyed in the wilderness. When the cloud stopped, and as they prepared to set up camp, the Rock moved through the camp to the outer court of the sanctuary.
I remember reading in Alfred Edersheim's, "The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah", how the annual Feast of Tabernacles included a special ceremony in commemeration of this miraculous provision of water. To the sound of music, a priest carrying a large golden pitcher, led a procession down to the Pool of Siloam. There, he filled the pitcher with water and returned. At the alter, the morning sacrifice was already being offered. In a perfectly timed entrance, through the "water gate" this priest would arrive for the conclusion of the ceremony. He would ascend the steps of the alter and pour the water into a specially designed funnel at the top of the alter. The water was directed to the bottom of the alter and ran down the steps in a mighty outpouring. The gathered crowd chanted lines from Psalm 118: 1-9, gave thanks, and prayed that Jehovah would send salvation and prosperity. According to Edershiem, they shook thier palm branches toward the alter, "thus praising with heart, and mouth, and hands," and then silence fell upon them.
It must have been at this very moment, as the steps were still wet from the outpouring that a stunned crowd heard the loud cry of Jesus recorded in John chapter 7. "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." It was an unmistakable refence to the promised outpouring of the Spirit.
A woman of Samaria, whose life was in shambles met this rock and found "a well of water springing up unto everlasting life." Paul taught the corinthian church that "they did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." If you can be led, you will be fed. He is our Rock and our Provider! When David was an old man, he wrote a new psalm and said, "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." (Psa 37:25 KJV)
Why did Paul bring up the Rock's provision, in his message to Corinth? Because he faught a daily battle to crucify the flesh and understood the challenges of submission to the Spirit. He was streetwise and possesed a keen sense of the issues that we all struggle with. Often fighting back the tears in order to write he told them what they needed to hear. The main point of his message about the rock found in 1 Cor 10 is that in spite of the awesome provision offered by Jehovah, many of them died in the wilderness because of murmering and idolitry. God will provide guidance and leadership, but if we refuse to follow we cannot expect his provision. It's a wilderness brother.
I remember reading in Alfred Edersheim's, "The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah", how the annual Feast of Tabernacles included a special ceremony in commemeration of this miraculous provision of water. To the sound of music, a priest carrying a large golden pitcher, led a procession down to the Pool of Siloam. There, he filled the pitcher with water and returned. At the alter, the morning sacrifice was already being offered. In a perfectly timed entrance, through the "water gate" this priest would arrive for the conclusion of the ceremony. He would ascend the steps of the alter and pour the water into a specially designed funnel at the top of the alter. The water was directed to the bottom of the alter and ran down the steps in a mighty outpouring. The gathered crowd chanted lines from Psalm 118: 1-9, gave thanks, and prayed that Jehovah would send salvation and prosperity. According to Edershiem, they shook thier palm branches toward the alter, "thus praising with heart, and mouth, and hands," and then silence fell upon them.
It must have been at this very moment, as the steps were still wet from the outpouring that a stunned crowd heard the loud cry of Jesus recorded in John chapter 7. "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." It was an unmistakable refence to the promised outpouring of the Spirit.
A woman of Samaria, whose life was in shambles met this rock and found "a well of water springing up unto everlasting life." Paul taught the corinthian church that "they did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." If you can be led, you will be fed. He is our Rock and our Provider! When David was an old man, he wrote a new psalm and said, "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." (Psa 37:25 KJV)
Why did Paul bring up the Rock's provision, in his message to Corinth? Because he faught a daily battle to crucify the flesh and understood the challenges of submission to the Spirit. He was streetwise and possesed a keen sense of the issues that we all struggle with. Often fighting back the tears in order to write he told them what they needed to hear. The main point of his message about the rock found in 1 Cor 10 is that in spite of the awesome provision offered by Jehovah, many of them died in the wilderness because of murmering and idolitry. God will provide guidance and leadership, but if we refuse to follow we cannot expect his provision. It's a wilderness brother.
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