Exo 17:6 | KingComments | STEP | Moses takes his need to the LORD. The LORD gives His instructions to meet in grace the grumbling of the people (cf. ). Here the Lord Himself gives the example of what He tells us to do: “But if your enemy ... is thirsty, give him a drink” ( ). Moses must strike the rock on which the LORD stands with the same staff as the one with which he smote the river Nile. Then there will be water flowing. As the elders stand there as witnesses, Moses strikes the rock, causing a stream of water to flow out ( ). Paul explains the spiritual meaning of this event. In view of this event, he says that the Israelites “all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ” ( ). Here it says that the rock represents Christ. He was beaten in the judgment God has brought over Him on the cross. After His death, resurrection and ascension, the Holy Spirit came. The Holy Spirit is compared to “rivers of living water” ( ). Just as the manna comes every day, the river of water also continues to follow the people, through the whole wilderness journey ( ). The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost is a one-off happening, but its consequences continue. This is done through the intercession of the Lord Jesus: “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; [that is] the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, [but] you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you” ( ). The Holy Spirit will be with and in the believer as long as the church is on earth, and forever.

‏ Exodus 17:6

The LORD Gives Water

Moses takes his need to the LORD. The LORD gives His instructions to meet in grace the grumbling of the people (cf. Exo 15:25). Here the Lord Himself gives the example of what He tells us to do: “But if your enemy ... is thirsty, give him a drink” (Rom 12:20). Moses must strike the rock on which the LORD stands with the same staff as the one with which he smote the river Nile. Then there will be water flowing. As the elders stand there as witnesses, Moses strikes the rock, causing a stream of water to flow out (Psa 78:15-16 ; Psa 114:8).

Paul explains the spiritual meaning of this event. In view of this event, he says that the Israelites “all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ” (1Cor 10:4). Here it says that the rock represents Christ. He was beaten in the judgment God has brought over Him on the cross. After His death, resurrection and ascension, the Holy Spirit came. The Holy Spirit is compared to “rivers of living water” (Jn 7:38-39).

Just as the manna comes every day, the river of water also continues to follow the people, through the whole wilderness journey (1Cor 10:4). The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost is a one-off happening, but its consequences continue. This is done through the intercession of the Lord Jesus: “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; [that is] the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, [but] you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you” (Jn 14:16-17). The Holy Spirit will be with and in the believer as long as the church is on earth, and forever.