August 16

PART II.—1 Corinthians 10:4.

LET us then now see, the features of resemblance in the mode by which God gave water to the Israelites, and the waters of salvation to our world. And our attention is first called to the Rock. "Get thee upon the rock." Now says the Apostle, "That rock was Christ." In its rugged appearance, it strikingly exhibited the lowliness of Christ's external appearance. Jesus appeared as "a root out of a dry ground." His birth-place, parentage, poverty, and the circumstances of his disciples, all gave offence to the proud aspiring Jews, and to them he was a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence. The rock in its massy appearance, typified the Almighty strength and power of Christ. What is so truly an emblem of strength, as the rock? How firm it stands amidst the sweeping torrent, how unaffected by the fury of the storm, or the tempest's roughest blast! such is Jesus, his power is infinite, nothing can exhaust his Almighty energy, or subdue his omnipotent power. All power is given unto him both in heaven and on earth. He is both the wisdom and power of God. The elevation of the rock shadowed forth the greatness and dignity of Christ. While Jesus abased himself in the assumption of our nature, and in becoming the servant of servants, yet he possessed at the same time all the dignity and power of proper and essential Deity. Yes, in his mediatorial character he was made higher than the sons of men, greater than all the princes of the earth, or even the angels in heaven; but in his Divine nature he is Lord of all, and dwelleth in the heaven of heavens, and is in all things one with Jehovah, his equal and his fellow. As such, his greatness, strength, and immutability were strikingly typified by the rock of Horeb. The Lord is a rock, and his work is perfect.