neither were they steadfast in His covenant。 But He； being full of
compassion； forgave their iniquity； and destroyed them not： yea； many a time
turned He His anger away。 。 。 。 For He remembered that they were but flesh；
a wind that passeth away； and cometh not again。〃 Verses 37…39。
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Chapter 37
The Smitten Rock
From the smitten rock in Horeb first flowed the living stream that refreshed
Israel in the desert。 During all their wanderings； wherever the need
existed； they were supplied with water by a miracle of God's mercy。 The
water did not； however； continue to flow from Horeb。 Wherever in their
journeyings they wanted water； there from the clefts of the rock it gushed
out beside their encampment。
It was Christ； by the power of His word； that caused the refreshing stream
to flow for Israel。 〃They drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them：
and that Rock was Christ。〃 1 Corinthians 10：4。 He was the source of all
temporal as well as spiritual blessings。 Christ； the true Rock； was with
them in all their wanderings。 〃They thirsted not when He led them through
the deserts： He caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them； He clave
the rock also； and the waters gushed out。〃 〃They ran in the dry places like
a river。〃 Isaiah 48：21； Psalm 105：41。
The smitten rock was a figure of Christ； and through this symbol the most
precious spiritual truths are taught。 As the life…giving waters flowed from
the smitten rock； so from Christ； 〃smitten of God；〃 〃wounded for our
transgressions；〃 〃bruised for our iniquities〃 （Isaiah 53：4； 5）； the stream
of salvation flows for a lost race。 As the rock had been once smitten； so
Christ was to be 〃once offered to bear the sins of many。〃 Hebrews 9：28。 Our
Saviour was not to be sacrificed a second time； and it is only necessary for
those who seek the blessings of His grace to ask in the name of Jesus；
pouring forth the heart's desire in penitential prayer。 Such prayer will
bring before the Lord of hosts the wounds of Jesus； and then will flow forth
afresh the life…giving blood； symbolized by the flowing of the living water
for Israel。
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The flowing of the water from the rock in the desert was celebrated by the
Israelites； after their establishment in Canaan； with demonstrations of
great rejoicing。 In the time of Christ this celebration had become a most
impressive ceremony。 It took place on the occasion of the Feast of
Tabernacles； when the people from all the land were assembled at Jerusalem。
On each of the seven days of the feast the priests went out with music and
the choir of Levites to draw water in a golden vessel from the spring of
Siloam。 They were followed by multitudes of the worshipers； as many as could
get near the stream drinking of it； while the jubilant strains arose； 〃With
joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation。〃 Isaiah 12：3。 Then
the water drawn by the priests was borne to the temple amid the sounding of
trumpets and the solemn chant； 〃Our feet shall stand within thy gates； O
Jerusalem。〃 Psalm 122：2。 The water was poured out upon the altar of burnt
offering； while songs of praise rang out； the multitudes joining in
triumphant chorus with musical instruments and deep…toned trumpets。
The Saviour made use of this symbolic service to direct the minds of the
people to the blessings that He had come to bring them。 〃In the last day；
that great day of the feast；〃 His voice was heard in tones that rang through
the temple courts； 〃If any man thirst； let him come unto Me； and drink。 He
that believeth on Me； as the Scripture hath said； out of his belly shall
flow rivers of living water。〃 〃This；〃 said John； 〃spake He of the Spirit；
which they that believe on Him should receive。〃 John 7：37…39。 The refreshing
water； welling up in a parched and barren land； causing the desert place to
blossom； and flowing out to give life to the perishing； is an emblem of the
divine grace which Christ alone can bestow； and which is as the living
water； purifying； refreshing； and invigorating the soul。 He in whom Christ
is abiding has within him a never…failing fountain of grace and strength。
Jesus cheers the life and brightens the path of all who truly seek Him。 His
love； received into the heart； will spring up in good works unto eternal
life。 And not only does it bless the soul in which it springs； but the
living stream will flow out in words and deeds of righteousness； to refresh
the thirsting around him。
The same figure Christ had employed in His conversation with the woman of
Samaria at Jacob's well： 〃Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give
him shall never thirst； but the
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water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up
into everlasting life。〃 John 4：14。 Christ combines the two types。 He is the
rock； He is the living water。
The same beautiful and expressive figures are carried throughout the Bible。
Centuries before the advent of Christ； Moses pointed to Him as the rock of
Israel's salvation （Deuteronomy 32：15）； the psalmist sang of Him as 〃my
Redeemer；〃 〃the rock of my strength；〃 〃the rock that is higher than I；〃 〃a
rock of habitation；〃 〃rock of my heart；〃 〃rock of my refuge。〃 In David's
song His grace is pictured also as the cool； 〃still waters；〃 amid green
pastures； beside which the heavenly Shepherd leads His flock。 Again； 〃Thou
shalt make them；〃 he says； 〃drink of the river of Thy pleasures。 For with
Thee is the fountain of life。〃 Psalms 19：14； 62：7； 61：2； 71：3。 （margin）；
73：26 （margin）； 94：22； 23：2； 36：8； 9。 And the wise man declares； 〃The
wellspring of wisdom ＇is＇ as a flowing brook。〃 Proverbs 18：4。 To Jeremiah；
Christ is 〃the fountain of living waters；〃 to Zechariah； 〃a fountain opened
。 。 。 for sin and for uncleanness。〃 Jeremiah 2：13； Zechariah 13：1。
Isaiah describes Him as the 〃rock of ages；〃 and 〃the shadow of a great rock
in a weary land。〃 Isaiah 26：4。 （margin）； 32：2。 And he records the precious
promise； bringing vividly to mind the living stream that flowed for Israel：
〃When the poor and needy seek water； and there is none； and their tongue
faileth for thirst； I the Lord will hear them； I the God of Israel will not
forsake them。〃 〃I will pour water upon him that is thirsty； and floods upon
the dry ground；〃 〃in the wilderness shall waters break out； and streams in
the desert。〃 The invitation is given； 〃Ho； every one that thirsteth； come ye
to the waters。〃 Isaiah 41：17； 44：3； 35：6； 55：1。 And in the closing pages of
the Sacred Word this invitation is echoed。 The river of the water of life；
〃clear as crystal；〃 proceeds from the throne of God and the Lamb； and the
gracious call is ringing down through the ages； 〃Whosoever will； let him
take the water of life freely。〃 Revelation 22：17。
Just before the Hebrew host reached Kadesh； the living stream ceased that
for so many years had gushed out beside their encampment。 It was the Lord's
purpose again to test His people。 He would prove whether they would trust
His providence or imitate the unbelief of their fathers。
They were now in sight of the hills of Canaan。 A few days'
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march would bring them to the borders of the Promised Land。 They were but a
little distance from Edom； which belonged to the descendants of Esau； and
through which lay the appointed route to Canaan。 The direction had been
given to Moses； 〃Turn you northward。 And command thou the people； saying； Ye
are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau； which
dwell in Seir； and they shall be afraid of you。 。 。 。 Ye shall buy meat of
them for money； that ye may eat； and ye shall also buy water of them for
money； that ye may drink。〃 Deuteronomy 2：3…6。 These directions should have
been sufficient to explain why their supply of water had been cut off； they
were about to pass through a well…watered； fertile country； in a direct
course to the land of Canaan。 God had promised them an unmolested passage
through Edom； and an opportunity to purchase food； and also water sufficient
to supply the host。 The cessation of the miraculous flow of water should
therefore have been a cause of rejoicing； a token that the wilderness
wandering was ended。 Had they not been blinded by their unbelief； they would
have understood this。 But that which should have been an evidence of the
fulfillment of God's promise was made the occasion of doubt and murmuring。
The people seemed to have given up all hope that God would bring them into
possession of Canaan； and they clamored for the blessings of the wilderness。
Before God permitted them to enter Canaan； they must show that they believed
His promise。 The water ceased before they had reached Edom。 Here was an
opportunity for them； for a little time； to walk by faith instead of sight。
But the first trial developed the same turbulent； unthankful spirit that had
been manifested by their fathers。 No sooner was the cry for water heard in
the encampment than they forgot the hand that had for so many years supplied
their wants； and instead of turning to God for help； they murmured against
Him； in their desperation exclaiming； 〃Would God that we had died when our
brethren died before the Lord！〃 （Numbers 20：1…13）； that is； they wished they
had been of the number who were destroyed in the rebellion of Korah。
Their cries were directed against Moses and Aaron： 〃Why have ye brought up
the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness； that we and our cattle
should die there？ And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt； to
bring us in unto
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this evil place？ it is no place of seed； or of figs； or of vines； or of
pomegranates； neither is there any water to drink。〃
The leaders went to the door of the tabernacle and fell upon their faces。
Again 〃the glory of the Lord appeared；〃 and Moses was directed； 〃Take the
rod； and gather thou the assembly together； thou and Aaron thy brother； and
speak ye unto the rock before their eyes； and it shall give forth his water；