He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.
God cleft the rocks in the wilderness and gave thirsty Israel abundant drink as out of the great depths, and at Rephidim, also called Horeb, Moses struck the rock at His command to bring water in their time of need. It was Christ, the Son of God hidden in the cloud beside Moses, who caused the life-giving water to flow, and the streams were thus shown to be under the living God's control, not the power of Baal or Ashtoreth. Psalm 78 recounts these rich blessings and wondrous works, and Israel's poor return in constantly forgetting His works and rebelling against Him. Their disobedience brought its sure result, for under rebuke they repented but under temptation fell again through self-indulgence, complaining in trial and longing for Egypt, which shows the danger of valuing worldly pleasures above God's service and freedom. That abundant provision in the past is a reminder that God can still give strength and meet His people's needs, so remembering His help should strengthen faith, keep them from repeating that complaining and forgetfulness, and arouse them to duty as fishers of men who sow the seeds of truth for a rich harvest.
Water from the Rock
God cleft the rocks in the wilderness and gave thirsty Israel drink in abundance, as out of the great depths. The water came like a river, living and cooling, drawn from the flinty rock for a thirsting host.
It was given at Rephidim, also called Horeb, when the people thirsted and murmured and were in time of need. At God's command Moses struck the rock, and the stroke opened the supply.
Christ, the Son of God, stood by Moses and caused the life-giving flow, showing the provision to be from God. He was hidden in the cloud beside Moses, and the congregation beheld the Lord's glory veiled in the cloud, whose unveiled brightness would otherwise have slain them. By this it was shown that streams and fountains are under the living God's control, and not in the power of Baal or Ashtoreth.
Israel's Forgetfulness and Ingratitude
Psalm 78, with this verse as part of it, is the record of the rich blessings, wondrous works, goodness and care bestowed upon His people, set against their poor return for all His benefits. It displays goodness toward Israel even while they constantly worked against Him, forgetting His works and rebelling against Him. Their disobedience brought them into the condition that was the sure result of their own course of action. Under rebuke and chastisement they repented, but under temptation they fell again through self-indulgence and self-gratification. When trials came they complained and forgot the source of their strength, longing for the former comforts of Egypt.
That mercy in cleaving the rock and giving drink should have inspired gratitude to God. Instead, their longing for Egypt illustrates the danger of valuing worldly pleasures above service to God and the freedom He had provided.
Faith and Duty Today
The abundant provision of splitting rocks in the wilderness to give water to Israel stands as a reminder that God can again give strength and help to those who rely on Him. The flinty rock at Rephidim could send out cooling streams, showing that God opened the rocks and supplied water for His people in difficulty. Remembering that past help should strengthen faith and trust in His continuing care to meet present needs.
As He cleft the rocks to bring water in abundance like a river from great depths, so He could also provide water for the well at Paradise Valley. Those who fully receive truth of heavenly origin and abide in Christ must not repeat Israel's complaining when trials came and forgetting the source of their strength recorded in Psalm 78:11-42. Instead they must keep connected to the source of all wisdom and power, continually advance in the divine life, and become strong and sanctified through the truth.
The verse is worthy of earnest consideration because it gives understanding of eternal realities in which God's people must be far in advance of where they now stand. It presses a solemn work upon them to arouse to duty as fishers of men. That duty is to explain the truths of the Word to those who do not know them, and to begin earnest, self-sacrificing efforts for those perishing in their sins. Those who sow the seeds of truth in such unselfish work will reap a rich harvest and do good beyond human estimate.
God cleft the rocks in the wilderness and gave thirsty Israel abundant drink as out of the great depths, and at Rephidim, also called Horeb, Moses struck the rock at His command to bring water in their time of need. It was Christ, the Son of God hidden in the cloud beside Moses, who caused the life-giving water to flow, and the streams were thus shown to be under the living God's control, not the power of Baal or Ashtoreth. Psalm 78 recounts these rich blessings and wondrous works, and Israel's poor return in constantly forgetting His works and rebelling against Him. Their disobedience brought its sure result, for under rebuke they repented but under temptation fell again through self-indulgence, complaining in trial and longing for Egypt, which shows the danger of valuing worldly pleasures above God's service and freedom. That abundant provision in the past is a reminder that God can still give strength and meet His people's needs, so remembering His help should strengthen faith, keep them from repeating that complaining and forgetfulness, and arouse them to duty as fishers of men who sow the seeds of truth for a rich harvest.
Water from the Rock
God cleft the rocks in the wilderness and gave thirsty Israel drink in abundance, as out of the great depths. The water came like a river, living and cooling, drawn from the flinty rock for a thirsting host.
It was given at Rephidim, also called Horeb, when the people thirsted and murmured and were in time of need. At God's command Moses struck the rock, and the stroke opened the supply.
Christ, the Son of God, stood by Moses and caused the life-giving flow, showing the provision to be from God. He was hidden in the cloud beside Moses, and the congregation beheld the Lord's glory veiled in the cloud, whose unveiled brightness would otherwise have slain them. By this it was shown that streams and fountains are under the living God's control, and not in the power of Baal or Ashtoreth.
Israel's Forgetfulness and Ingratitude
Psalm 78, with this verse as part of it, is the record of the rich blessings, wondrous works, goodness and care bestowed upon His people, set against their poor return for all His benefits. It displays goodness toward Israel even while they constantly worked against Him, forgetting His works and rebelling against Him. Their disobedience brought them into the condition that was the sure result of their own course of action. Under rebuke and chastisement they repented, but under temptation they fell again through self-indulgence and self-gratification. When trials came they complained and forgot the source of their strength, longing for the former comforts of Egypt.
That mercy in cleaving the rock and giving drink should have inspired gratitude to God. Instead, their longing for Egypt illustrates the danger of valuing worldly pleasures above service to God and the freedom He had provided.
Faith and Duty Today
The abundant provision of splitting rocks in the wilderness to give water to Israel stands as a reminder that God can again give strength and help to those who rely on Him. The flinty rock at Rephidim could send out cooling streams, showing that God opened the rocks and supplied water for His people in difficulty. Remembering that past help should strengthen faith and trust in His continuing care to meet present needs.
As He cleft the rocks to bring water in abundance like a river from great depths, so He could also provide water for the well at Paradise Valley. Those who fully receive truth of heavenly origin and abide in Christ must not repeat Israel's complaining when trials came and forgetting the source of their strength recorded in Psalm 78:11-42. Instead they must keep connected to the source of all wisdom and power, continually advance in the divine life, and become strong and sanctified through the truth.
The verse is worthy of earnest consideration because it gives understanding of eternal realities in which God's people must be far in advance of where they now stand. It presses a solemn work upon them to arouse to duty as fishers of men. That duty is to explain the truths of the Word to those who do not know them, and to begin earnest, self-sacrificing efforts for those perishing in their sins. Those who sow the seeds of truth in such unselfish work will reap a rich harvest and do good beyond human estimate.