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NASB | 1 Corinthians 10:4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 10:4 and all [of them] drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. [Ex 17:6; Num 20:11] |
Bible Question:
Why apostle Paul identifies rock with the Messiah? "for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them" and it followed them ,i never seen walking rock ? |
Bible Answer: Hi alexeyhurricane, 1 Corinthians 10:4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. You have asked a very excellent question, even with a little humor. The verse does point out the fact that the rock, which provided the Israelites water in the wilderness, is symbolic of Christ. Further, that the water it provided is symbolic of God’s spirit. However, to fully understand the spiritual, we must first be able to understand the physical or literal meaning of this scripture. The scriptures record two instances where “the rock” provided the Israelites with water. Exodus 17:6 relates that God instructed Moses to strike “the rock” and in Numbers 20:8 Moses is told to “speak to the rock.” Implicit in all 3 scriptures is the fact that there was an actual specific rock and that literal rock, symbolic of Jesus, followed the Israelites in the wilderness for 40 years. Your question, as I understand it, pertains to the literal rock and not the spiritual rock of Jesus himself. The Israelites numbered maybe 2 million, plus an unknown number of livestock that would have been in need of water during the 40 years in the wilderness desert. I think it is a logical conclusion that “the rock” provided water many more times than just the two instances mentioned in scripture. So, what about this literal rock? This rock has several names, including “God’s House”, “the House of God”, “the Shepherd”, and “the Stone of Israel.” The stone was also known as a pillar and the Kings of Israel would receive their crowns and make covenants next to the pillar. The history of the pillar-stone begins in Genesis 28: 14-22, where Jacob used it as a pillow. Jacob anointed the stone (v.18) and named it Bethel, meaning “God’s House” (v.22). Later, in Genesis 31 God makes reference to the stone and states “I am the God of Bethel.” Bethel was the name also given to the location, as well as the stone. Bethel was later given to the tribe of Joseph (Ephraim) when the land was divided among the sons of Jacob. Joseph possessed the birthright and so custody of the stone would have gone to the tribe of Joseph during the time in Egypt and the wilderness. When Jacob blessed Joseph in Gen 49, he states “from there the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel.” Note that Jacob is not speaking of Jesus here, because Jesus descended from Judah and not Joseph. Jacob is speaking of the literal pillar-stone, which was symbolic of Jesus. When the Israelites travelled in the wilderness, the tribes of Joseph were in the rear and thus “the rock” followed the Israelites for 40 years. 2 Kings 11:13-14 show us that it was the custom of Israelite kings to receive their crowns next to the pillar and 2 Kings 23:3, that they would also make covenants in a like manner. This is what the scriptures tell us about “the rock” and the water it produced. Unfortunately, this was not how it was portrayed in the movie “The Ten Commandments”, from which I think most opinions on the matter are formed. I hope this has answered your question. Hoth |