The New Testament directs us about how to live.
The Old Testament gives powerful pictures to illustrate these truths.
Numbers 20:7-12
The Lord said to Moses, 8 “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”
9 So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him. 10 He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.
12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”
1 Corinthians 10:1-11
For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.
5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.
7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. 11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.
You can always find a reason to complain, but since you know Jesus, there are more reasons to give thanks.
LESSONS FROM THE ROCK
The Rock in the wilderness was a picture of Jesus.
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2
Haven’t you read this passage of Scripture: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;” Mark 12:10
1. Obey God’s instructions.
It’s not just about getting things done, it’s about doing them the right way with the right attitude.
2. God alone is worthy of honor and glory.
3. God corrects us when we disobey Him.
4. Jesus satisfies your thirst.
“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:38
Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” John 4:10
Stop drinking the things that make you more thirsty.
Allow Jesus to quench your thirst.
Are you thirsty? Jesus is the Living Water.
You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you in a dry and parched land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1