Speak to Christ the Rock

Jesus was the prophet that Moses promised would come and speak God's Word to us. Christ is a better prophet than Moses, and has a better word from God - Gospel words of salvation to all who trust in Him!

Moses and Christ share this eerie similarity - of both it could be said, that God was angry with them for His people's sake!

Isaiah lays out precisely why God's wrath fell upon Christ - because God laid our sin upon Him, and He was put to death in our place because of them.

God's wrath against Moses could not deliver Israel from its sin, because Moses was not a spotless sacrifice. He could not take Israel's place in the judgment.

But the Lord Jesus was God's spotless Lamb! Therefore, His death under God's wrath for our sin cleanses us completely from all unrighteousness.

Moses' bore God's wrath because Israel's sin provoked Moses to sin when he struck the rock instead of speaking to it.

Israel's rebellion provoked Moses to disbelieve that God would provide water to a rebellious and sinful people for the mere asking, and so he struck the rock, disobeying God and dishonoring God before the people.

But that Rock was a type of Jesus, Who promised He would give living water to poor sinners who call upon Him! Salvation is available from the Savior for the asking, even to rebellious sinners.

When Moses struck the rock, disbelieving that a mere request would provide water to the people, he broke the type of God's gracious provision to sinners of eternal life through faith in the Lord Jesus.

Moses could not let go of the law and judgment, when God intended to graciously provide water to a rebellious undeserving people to point them to the Savior!