Christ, the Rock of Salvation and Judgment

What can we learn from Numbers 20?

Numbers 20 recounts a pivotal moment in Israel’s wilderness journey—one that teaches us profound truths about faith, obedience, and Christ as the Rock of salvation and judgment.

The people of Israel once again complained against Moses, saying, “There was no water for the congregation” (Numbers 20:2). In response, God commanded Moses:

“Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water. You shall bring water for them out of the rock and give drink to the congregation and their livestock.” (Numbers 20:8)

Moses, however, disobeyed. Instead of speaking to the rock, he struck it twice:

“Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their livestock drank.” (Numbers 20:11)

Why was God displeased with this?

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Christ, the Rock Struck for Our Salvation

Moses’ error was not merely an act of disobedience—it was a failure to trust in God’s word:

“But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Since you did not trust in Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, for that reason you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.’”(Numbers 20:12)

God had a deeper purpose in this command. Paul reveals in 1 Corinthians 10:4 that the rock in the wilderness symbolized Christ:

“…for they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.”

In Exodus 17, when Israel first needed water, God commanded Moses to strike the rock (Exodus 17:6). But in Numbers 20, God commanded him to speak to it. The difference is significant:

• Christ, like the rock, was struck once for our salvation (Isaiah 53:5).
• After this, all that is needed is faith—speaking to the Rock, calling upon Christ, and receiving His living water (Matthew 7:7).

By striking the rock again, Moses distorted the typology. Christ was already struck once for sin; now, the people only needed to believe and ask.

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Christ, the Rock of Judgment

While Christ is the Rock of salvation, He is also the Rock of judgment. Throughout Scripture, stoning was the punishment for certain sins, and rocks symbolized divine justice.

In Numbers 15, a man who violated the Sabbath was stoned by command of God. This foreshadows how Christ, the rejected Rock, will bring judgment upon those who reject Him.

This theme is confirmed in Daniel 2, where the kingdom of Christ is described as a great stone that crushes all other kingdoms. Jesus Himself affirms this in Matthew 21, declaring:

“Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.” (Matthew 21:44)

Unbelief kept Moses from entering the Promised Land, just as unbelief keeps sinners from entering the kingdom of God. The question is:

Will you come to Christ, the Rock of salvation, or will you fall beneath the weight of His judgment?

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Conclusion: A Call to Faith

The lesson of Numbers 20 is clear: Christ, the Rock, was struck once for our sins. Now, we must come to Him in faith.

“Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never be thirsty.” (John 4:14)

Will you seek and receive this living water today? Or will you reject Him and face the Rock of judgment?

The choice is yours.