BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE

EXODUS 17:1-6, NUMBERS 20:1-12


Pastor Rick Jackson


Two similar situations. Two requests. Two different answers. Two responses. Two men NOT going to the promised land.


I. WHAT DOES THIS TEACH US ABOUT GOD?


1. GOD IS MERCIFUL [Nm. 20:11]


2. GOD IS HOLY [Nm. 20:12, 23-24; Dt. 32:48-51]


3. GOD IS GRACIOUS [Dt. 32:52, 34:1-7; Mt. 17:1-3; Rv. 15:3]


II. WHAT DOES THIS TEACH US ABOUT SIN?


1. SIN IS A UNIVERSAL PATTERN [Nm. 20:12, Rm. 3:23]


2. SIN IS A SIMPLE PROCEDURE [Nm. 20:12, Proverbs 14:9 Fools make a mock at sin:]


3. SIN IS A COMPLEX PROBLEM [Rm. 14:7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.]


But there is a deeper significance to what Moses did. In both cases, the rock was symbolic of Jesus Christ, as He is the source of the living water of our eternal life. Speaking of Israel’s travels through the desert, the Apostle Paul made this plain when he said: "And did all drink the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ," 1 Corinthians 10:4.

Jesus Himself said to the woman at the well in Samaria: "… Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life," John 4:13-14.

We are also told that Christ only had to make this sacrifice of Himself once: "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God... For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified," Hebrews 10:12, 14.

Jesus was physically struck once in the form of His Passion, and that one offering was all that was necessary to purchase for mankind the gift of everlasting life. From that point on, those who seek Him need only to speak to Him, asking Him to come into their lives, and He will do so. It is all by His grace and mercy, and by our faith in Him. It is not by any work that we might do (Ephesians 2:8-9). Moses violated this symbolism in Numbers 20 by striking the rock, and so he was banished from entering into the Promised Land. (from www.thekingiscoming.com)


Sin is contagious- it infects us and others. It has consequences which are compounded in our lives. It both affects us and has an effect on us. So...


III. WHAT DOES THIS TEACH US ABOUT HOW TO HANDLE SIN?


1. Make your confession [Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy., I Jn. 1:9]


2. Take your chastening [Dt. 3:23-28]


3. Wake your consecration [Eph. 5:8-20]

Don't get stuck between a Rock and a hard place.