Water from the Rock — Joseph Hall on Exodus 17

Water from the Rock 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 chapter 10 verse 4 Who would not have looked, that this answer of Moses should have appeased their fury? As what can still him, that will not be quiet to think he has God for his adversary? But, as if they would wilfully war against heaven, they proceed; yet with no less craft than violence, bending their exception to one part of the answer, and smoothly omitting what they could not except against. They will not hear of tempting God: they maintain their strife with Moses, both with words and stones. How malicious, how heady is impatience! The act was God's, they cast it upon Moses: "Wherefore have you brought us?" The act of God was merciful, they make it cruel, "To kill us and our children:" as if God and Moses meant nothing but their ruin, who intended nothing but their life and liberty. Foolish men, what needed this journey to death? Were they not as obnoxious to God in Egypt? Could not God by Moses as easily have killed them in Egypt, or in the sea, as their enemies? Impatience is full of misconstruction. If it be possible to find out any gloss, to corrupt the text of God's actions, they shall be sure not to escape untainted. It was no expostulating with an unreasonable multitude. Moses runs straight to him that was able at once to quench their thirst and their fury; "What shall I do to this people?" It is the best way to trust God with his own causes. When men will be intermeddling with his affairs, they undo themselves in vain. We shall find difficulties in all great enterprizes; if we be sure we have begun them from God, we may securely cast all events upon his providence, which knows how to dispose, and how to end them. Moses perceived rage, not in the tongues only, but in the hands of the Israelites; "Yet a while longer, and they will stone me." Even the leader of God's people feared death, and sinned not in fearing. Life is worthy to be dear to all; especially to him whom public charge has made necessary. Mere fear is not sinful; it is impotence and distrust that accompany it, which make it evil. How well is that fear bestowed, that sends us the more importunately to God! Some man would have thought of flight: Moses flies to his prayers; and that not for revenge, but for help. Who but Moses would not have said, This twice they have mutinied, and been pardoned; and now again thou seest, O Lord, how madly they rebel, and how bloodily they intend against me! Preserve me, I beseech thee! and plague them. I hear none of this; but, imitating the long-suffering of his God, he seeks to God for them, which sought to kill him for the quarrel of God. Neither is God sooner sought than found. All Israel might see Moses go towards the rock: none but the elders might see him strike it. Their unbelief made them unworthy of this privilege. It is no small favour of God to make us witnesses of his great works; that he crucifies his Son before us, that he fetches the water of life out of the true Rock in our sight, is a high prerogative: if his rigour would have taken it, our infidelity had equally excluded us, whom now his mercy has received. Moses must take his rod; God could have done it by his will, without a word; or by his word, without the rod; but he will do by means that which he can as easily do without. There was no virtue in the rod, none in the stroke; but all in the command of God. Means must be used, and yet their efficacy must be expected outside of themselves. It does not suffice God to name the rod, without a description; "Whereby you smote the river." Wherefore? but to strengthen the faith of Moses, that he might well expect this wonder from that which he had tried to be miraculous. How could he but firmly believe, that the same means which turned the waters into blood, and turned the sea into a wall, could as well turn the stone into water? Nothing more raises up the heart in present affiance, than the recognition of favours, or wonders passed. Behold the same rod that brought plagues to the Egyptians, brings deliverances to Israel. By the same means can God save and condemn; like as the same sword defends and kills. That power, which turned the wings of the quails to the wilderness, turned the course of the water through the rock. He might, if he had pleased, have caused a spring to well out of the plain earth; but he will now fetch it out of the stone, to convince and shame their infidelity. What is more hard and dry than the rock? what more moist and supple than water? That they may be ashamed to think they distrusted, lest God could bring them water out of the clouds or springs, the very rock shall yield it. And now, unless their hearts had been more rocky than this stone, they could not but have resolved them into tears for this diffidence. I wonder to see these Israelites fed with sacraments; their bread was sacramental, whereof they communicated every day. Lest any man should complain of frequence, the Israelites received daily; and now their drink was sacramental, that the ancient church may give no warrant of a dry communion. Twice therefore has the rock yielded them water of refreshing: to signify that the true spiritual rock yields it always. The rock that followed them was Christ. Out of thy side, O Saviour, issued that bloody stream, whereby the thirst of all believers is comfortably quenched. Let us but thirst, (not with repining, but with faith) this rock of thine shall abundantly flow forth to our souls, and follow us, till this water be changed into that new wine, which we shall drink with thee in thy Father's kingdom.