The Smitten Rock – The Bible-Believing Fundamentalist

Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, July 11, 2004, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

THE SMITTEN ROCK
By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Exodus 17:1-7

Text: Exodus 17:6

Exodus 17:6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

Introduction: I don’t know if you are aware of it, but this is one of the places in the Bible where we can see a clear portrayal of the Lord Jesus Christ. You may not have seen His NAME, the name of JESUS, mentioned in the passage, but I want you to know that He is there, all the same. Remember that Jesus said of the Old Testament:

John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

What were those “scriptures”? According to the context, they were a direct reference to Genesis through Deuteronomy, the first five books of the Bible, for the Lord further stated:

John 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.

The New Testament interprets the Old Testament. Turn with me to the New Testament commentary on our passage before us:

1 Corinthians 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

I want to point out four great truths about our Lord and the Smitten Rock from our scripture reading in Exodus this morning:

I. THE PAST OF THE WICKED

Exodus 17:1 And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.

The wilderness of sin is the place from which the people came.

Sin was a city in Egypt, and we find this interesting statement about the city in Ezekiel:

Ezekiel 30:15 And I will pour my fury upon Sin, the strength of Egypt; and I will cut off the multitude of No.

A. The darkness of Egypt

B. The deeds of Egypt
     1. The African morals
     2. The African music
     3. The African mentality

C. The dominion of Egypt

II. THE PROBLEM OF THE WILDERNESS Ex. 17:1-3

Exodus 17:1b and there was no water for the people to drink.

Exodus 17:2 Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?

A. A problem of drought

B. A problem of desire
1. No satisfaction – Mick Jagger

C. A problem of desperation
     1. Suicides
     2. Murders
     3. Drugs
     4. Pills
     5. Tranquilizers
     6. Anti-depressants

III. THE PROVISION BY THE WORK OF GOD

A. The presence of God
1. “I will stand”
2. God was in Christ

B. The plan of God
1. “thou shalt smite”
2. Christ was smitten of God on Calvary

C. The promise of God
     1. “there shall come water”
     2. Hallelujah!
     3. Holy water!
     4. Healthy water
     5. Heavenly water

IV. THE PARTAKING OF THE WATER

Notice the words in the verse, “that the people may drink.”

Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

A. God’s salvation is plentiful

B. God’s salvation is paid
1. Not cheap, but FREE

C. God’s salvation is personal
     1. The water must be drunk
     2. Salvation must be RECEIVED
     3. Romans 6:23b
     4. Acts 16:29-31

John 4:13-14 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Michael D. O’Neal (Proverbs 11:30), Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church
P.O. Box 3071 (237 Lockett Station Road), Albany, GA 31706
(229) 432-0039 (church) / (229) 698-2127 (parsonage)
*Scriptures in my notes are from the Authorized Version 1611 -KJV- and are used by permission of the Author – Ephesians. 6:17*
“Prepare For War in 2004”