Monday Theophany: Water from the Rock

 Moses Strikes the Rock at Horeb (Num. 20:1-11) Gustave Doré (1832–1883)

“And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying… Speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water.” — Numbers 20:7-8

I remember asking my Dad for a baseball. The next day I lost it.

I was afraid to tell him that and more afraid to ask for another.

My Mom said, "Just go and ask him. He loves you!"

I didn't understand the connection, but she did. And he got me the new baseball!

Jesus loves me even more than my Dad. He delights in blessing me.

He loves you, too! Ask, and you will receive!

The Rock in the Wilderness

The people of Israel had come again to the wilderness of Zin.It was hot. It was dry. It was discouraging. They had been here before — forty years earlier, when God had first brought water out of the rock at Rephidim (Exodus 17).

Now, at the end of their wandering, they thirst again. And just as before, God was present with them — not as an idea or a symbol, but as a Person. The Rock that followed them was Christ.

“For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” — 1 Corinthians 10:4

The same Jesus who would one day stand in the courts of Jerusalem crying, “If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink” (John 7:37), was already there in the desert, providing water to His people.

The Command and the Failure

The Lord told Moses:

“Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together… and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water.” — Numbers 20:8

Moses was to speak, not strike.God had already demonstrated His power through the first striking at Rephidim. That act pointed forward to the Cross — when the Rock of Ages would be smitten once for all.

But this time, Moses lifted his hand in anger and struck the rock twice.Water still flowed — for the people were thirsty — but Moses had disobeyed.

“Because ye believed Me not, to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel…” — Numbers 20:12

It was a costly lesson in obedience. Even great leaders can falter when weary, and even righteous anger can cloud our obedience to God’s Word.

The Grace That Still Flows

Even in judgment, God’s mercy abounds. The Rock was struck again — a picture of how Christ continues to pour out grace even when His people fail to trust Him.He does not withdraw His presence or withhold His blessing.

The same Jesus who stood patient before the unbelief of Israel still stands patient before our weakness. He knows our frailty. He understands our thirst. And from His pierced side still flows “living water.”

“If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.” — John 7:37“Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst.” — John 4:14

Devotional Reflection

When the people murmured, God did not abandon them. When Moses failed, God still provided. The Rock did not run dry.

So it is with us. In seasons of spiritual dryness, Jesus stands ready to refresh our souls. But He calls us to obedience — to speak to the Rock, not strike it. To trust His Word, not our emotions. To honor His holiness before others.

The Rock in the wilderness is still our Rock today.

A Short Prayer

Lord Jesus, You are the Rock of my salvation, the Living Water in every desert place.Forgive me when I strike in anger instead of speaking in faith. Teach me to honor You before others, to believe Your Word, and to drink deeply from the waters You freely give. Amen.

Discussion Question

What “dry places” in your life is the Lord inviting you to bring before Him in faith — to speak, not strike — and trust that His living water will flow again?

Dawn on us this morn­ing-tide.

Light from light’s ex­haust­less sea,

Now no more Thy ra­di­ance hide,

And dis­pel with glo­ri­ous might

All our night.

Let the morn­ing dew of love

On our sleep­ing con­science rain;

Gentle com­fort from above

Flow through life’s long parch­èd plain

Water dai­ly us Thy flock

From the rock.

Let the glow of love de­stroy

Cold obe­di­ence faint­ly giv­en,

Wake our hearts to love and joy

With the flush­ing east­ern heav’n,

Let us tru­ly rise ere yet

Life hath set.

Brightest Star of east­ern skies,

Let that fa­tal morn ap­pear,

When our bo­dies too shall rise

Free from all that pained them here,

Strong their joy­ful course to run

As the sun.

To yon world be Thou our light,

O Thou glo­ri­ous Sun of Grace;

Lead us through the tear­ful night,

To yon fair and bless­èd place,

Where to joy that nev­er dies

We shall rise.

Words: Christ­ian von Ro­sen­roth, 1664