The Rock of Israel Rejected

Moses described God's salvation as the Rock for His people Israel. He introduced the metaphor of God as our Rock in the context of describing how Israel would reject and abandon God as her Rock, and would be destroyed because of it.

Moses warned that there was no other rock that anybody can flee to but God.

The Psalmist King David often referred to God as His Rock of salvation, his hiding place from his enemies, his shelter and his fortress.

Isaiah, like Moses, prophesied that God as our perfect Rock would be rejected by Israel, who would stumble upon and take offense at that Rock.

Peter disclosed that Christ is that Rock - unto Him and His sacrifice for sin all His people repair, and rejoice in Him as our precious stone. Christ is also identified as the stone of stumbling and rock of offense that Isaiah foretold.

Paul fills in the final detail of why Israel stumbles upon Christ as the Rock - because of His crucifixion and death for His people as our sacrifice. To the Jews, and indeed to all unrepentant sinners, Christ's offering is disregarded as nothing, and even despised.

How can Christ be our Rock when He laid down His life at Calvary? Those who reject the Gospel think His death disqualifies Him as a Savior and strong Rock for His people.

They forget that the very first mention of a rock in Scripture was that Rock that Moses was commanded to strike, and from which came water to save Israel in the desert.

Jesus is that Rock, and from His being smitten for us at the cross there flows living water for all who trust in Him!

Oh that men would not despise Jesus the Rock because He was smitten for us, but rather embrace Him as the precious savior!