In Exodus 17 we are told that the people had no water so they quarreled with Moses. What was Moses to do? He knows that their quarrel is not just with him but they are upset with God. Moses takes this complaint to the Lord and the Lord answers him. Moses is told by the Lord to come before the people with the elders and his rod and He, the Lord Himself, will stand before Moses on the rock at Horeb. This is the only time we read that Lord stands before the people. Every other time the people are to stand before the Lord.
As Moses comes to the rock he knows that there will be a trial but who will be on trial? Moses has his rod of judgment, the rod he used to judge Egypt and to part the Red Sea. Moses has the elders as his council to pass judgment on the guilty party. But who will be judged today? When Moses arrives at the rock he is surprised to find out that it is God Himself who is being judged. Moses is to take his rod and strike the rock upon which the Lord Himself was standing before the people. The Lord would be taking the judgment for the people. It is only when Moses passes the judgment upon the Lord that the water of life comes from the rock.
This is the Gospel. God has stepped into the dock to take the judgment that was ours upon Himself. This is the good news.
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