Chapter 37—Moses Fails on the Border of Canaan
This chapter is based on
Numbers 20:1-13
.
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, by a miracle water gushed out beside their encampment.
It was Christ 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. “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
.
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. It is only necessary for those
who seek the blessings of His grace to ask in the name of Jesus, then
will flow forth afresh the life-giving blood, symbolized by the flowing
water for Israel.
Just before the Hebrew host reached Kadesh, the living stream
ceased that for many years had gushed out beside their encampment.
The Lord would prove whether they would trust His providence or
imitate the unbelief of their fathers.
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They were now in sight of the hills of Canaan, but a little distance
from Edom, through which lay the appointed route to Canaan. The
direction had been given to Moses, “Command thou the people, saying,
Ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau,
... 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 2:4-6
.
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