That Rock was Christ
I Corinthians 10:1–13
“For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. (1) Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” (2) We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. (3) And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
That Rock was Christ (v. 4)—the LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want (Psa 23:1). Let us look to Jesus daily and draw from Him our sustenance as Israel did in the wilderness, He is our fixed point, the anchor to our beings amidst the cacophony and the hosts of things, spirits, distractions that may cause us to sin—engage in what amounts to idolatry, sexual immorality, and grumbling (or what the 18th Century English poet, Alexander Pope calls, “impious discontent” that along with foolish pride, he asks God to save him from), these are heavy chains upon us that weigh us down. But God gives us hope in the desert as He had been faithful to those before us. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne (Heb 12:1–3).” God is our strength and sustenance, this Rock is Christ and we cling to His promises, He is trustworthy: "Look to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness And will not turn back, That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance… (Isa 45:22–23).” Amen, LORD we turn to You and are filled with the praise of You in our hearts and on our lips:
Mean though I am, not wholly so
Since quickened by Thy breath;
Oh lead me wheresoe’er I go,
Through this day’s life or death.
This day, be bread and peace my lot:
All else beneath the sun,
Thou know’st if best bestowed or not,
And let Thy will be done.
To Thee, whose temple is all space,
Whose altar, earth, sea, skies!
One chorus let all being raise!
All Nature’s incense rise!
“For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. (1) Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” (2) We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. (3) And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
That Rock was Christ (v. 4)—the LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want (Psa 23:1). Let us look to Jesus daily and draw from Him our sustenance as Israel did in the wilderness, He is our fixed point, the anchor to our beings amidst the cacophony and the hosts of things, spirits, distractions that may cause us to sin—engage in what amounts to idolatry, sexual immorality, and grumbling (or what the 18th Century English poet, Alexander Pope calls, “impious discontent” that along with foolish pride, he asks God to save him from), these are heavy chains upon us that weigh us down. But God gives us hope in the desert as He had been faithful to those before us. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne (Heb 12:1–3).” God is our strength and sustenance, this Rock is Christ and we cling to His promises, He is trustworthy: "Look to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness And will not turn back, That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance… (Isa 45:22–23).” Amen, LORD we turn to You and are filled with the praise of You in our hearts and on our lips:
Mean though I am, not wholly so
Since quickened by Thy breath;
Oh lead me wheresoe’er I go,
Through this day’s life or death.
This day, be bread and peace my lot:
All else beneath the sun,
Thou know’st if best bestowed or not,
And let Thy will be done.
To Thee, whose temple is all space,
Whose altar, earth, sea, skies!
One chorus let all being raise!
All Nature’s incense rise!
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