“Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold,
and there was none among his tribes who stumbled.
Egypt was glad when they departed,
for dread of them had fallen upon it.
He spread a cloud for a covering,
and fire to give light by night.
They asked, and he brought quail,
and gave them bread from heaven in abundance.
He opened the rock, and water gushed out;
it flowed through the desert like a river.
For he remembered his holy promise,
and Abraham, his servant.
So he brought his people out with joy,
his chosen ones with singing.
And he gave them the lands of the nations,
and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples’ toil,
that they might keep his statutes
and observe his laws.
Praise the Lord!” Psalm 105:37-45
“He made water flow for them from the rock;
he split the rock and the water gushed out.” Isaiah 48:21b
God’s deliverance is a sparkling theme that flows through scripture into the advent of Jesus, and culminates in the promise of His return. The Lord opened Abraham’s heart to faith in His call. Generations later He opened Egypt’s doors for Israel to depart, and with great plunder. He opened the rock for Moses to give water to assuage their thirst in the desert. Every opening was a picture of His rent side on the cross, making a way for His people to believe, come out of sin’s captivity, and enter eternal life and satisfaction. (Genesis 12:1-4; Exodus 14:21-29; 17:6; John 4:13-14; Revelation 22:12)
The opening of our Rock Jesus is the way of deliverance yet today. He covers, protects, and provides, always our light, always remembering His promises and watching over us in love. Our Savior was struck, crucified, and speared to let flow water and blood, and His rent side still offers deliverance from the sin that presently entangles us with all its attending maladies- fear, anxiety, bitterness, pride, greed. (1 Samuel 2:2; John 19:33-34)
He with the riven side beckons us to open ourselves to Him for cleansing and transformation. In what particular areas are we rock hard? Are our heels dug in, always insisting we are right, or rightly excused? Have we lost the warmth of unselfish love toward family members, or do we refuse to love enemies? Where have we calloused to Scripture’s commands, or allowed sin to take root, creep, and poison? (Matthew 5:43-44; Hebrews 10:22; 12:15)
“Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure;
save from wrath and make me pure.
Nothing in my hand I bring,
simply to the cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Savior, or I die.” ~Augustus Toplady (1776)
Lord, crack the rock in me that resists Your touch and rebels against Your ways. Apply Your living water and cause it to flow anew in and through me, so I sing and praise You forever.
As the rain and snow 