Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

THE SMITTEN ROCK

1. Israel in dire need of water:
   1. They camped at Rephidim, a place devoid of water.
   2. Men and beasts were suffering from want of water.
2. Israel, as usual, chided with Moses, blaming him for their lack of water:
   1. "Give us water that we may drink"
   2. This attitude by ancient Israel reveals a spiritual blindness that is so common among the professed people of God.
   3. They looked to men for the impossible, whereas they should have turned to the Lord for help.
3. It was at this point that God, in mercy, directed Moses to smite the rock:
   1. Water gushed out of the rock to supply the need of men and beasts.
   2. But the people continued to plague Moses, unmindful of the blessings of God.

1. The circumstances of the people:
   1. They were in need of water to keep themselves and their animals alive.
   2. There was no earthly way for anyone to supply this water in that place.
      1. Moses knew and understood this situation; but the people did not, they looked to Moses to supply the water.
      2. They left God out of their need, and that was a serious mistake on their part.
2. How completely destitute is man outside of Jesus Christ:
   1. "Without me ye can do nothing" - John 15:5
   2. "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" - John 14:6
   3. Yet how easy it is to look to poor mortals for help to supply our needs! Jer. 2:12, 13

1. A loving and compassionate God provided the needed water:
   1. Man's extremity is God's opportunity.
   2. God used the most forbidding and most unlikely means to give them water - He had it come out of a rock, a flint-rock at that.
   3. He directed Moses to smite the rock in the presence of the Lord.
   4. Living water gushed forth from the rock to satisfy the needs of Israel.
2. This miraculous experience typified the smitten Rock of ages:
   1. The rock from which they got their water was none other but Christ - 1 Cor. 10:4
   2. The Saviour must have alluded to the experience at Rephidim in his call to the people on the last day of the feast, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink" - John 7:37
3. The water at Rephidim came from the smitten rock:
   1. The blessings of salvation can come to us only by God smiting the Rock of ages - Zech. 13:7; Matt. 27:37
   2. The soldiers pierced His side and blood and water came out of it - John 19:34
4. The experience of Israel at Rephidim has some very timely lessons for us today:
   1. God allows men at times to get into dire and seemingly hopeless circumstances -
      1. To expose their true nature and hopelessness.
      2. To direct them to the plan of salvation.
   2. He sends us help from the most unlikely places.
   3. He allows circumstances to blur our vision or view, not to discourage us but to help us to turn to our great helper.
   4. That will give us a better view of heavenly things.
   5. May the water of life meet our every need.