Smitten Rock
365
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 Shep-
herd 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.”
Psalm 19:14
;
62:7
;
Psalm 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
;
Isaiah 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’ march
[414]
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....