277 - Command the Rock, Do Not Strike the Rock#
277 - Command the Rock, Do Not Strike the Rock
(JP Text Group - Organized by the Little Prince of Heaven)
The topic of sharing is: Command the Rock, Do Not Strike the Rock.
Numbers 20:7-13,
7 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 8 “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. In their sight, speak to the rock, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock and give drink to the congregation and their livestock.” 9 So Moses took the staff from before the Lord, as He commanded him. 10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock.
Moses said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their livestock drank. 12 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” 13 This was the water of Meribah, because the children of Israel contended with the Lord, and He was hallowed among them (Meribah means “contention”).
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father! Thank You and praise You! Thank You for giving us the beginning of a new week. I am willing to apply Your words in our lives. What You give us is a blessing. You desire for us to live in You, not according to our will, but according to Your will, because what You give us is always the best. Through these words, renew my thoughts and intentions once again. We do not live in the past; our God is a living God today. Let me see You today and experience Your presence. I completely entrust the following time to the Holy Spirit to help every brother and sister. In the name of the Lord Jesus, I pray, Amen!
The wilderness of Sinai is extremely hot, with average daytime temperatures above 46°C. It is very difficult to be in the wilderness without water. When there is no water, people become particularly irritable, especially in summer. The Israelites often complained, which is actually human nature; from a human perspective, this is very normal. However, they did not need to complain; there was a better solution, which was to turn to God, but they had not learned this.
God had wonderful provisions in the wilderness. There was no food or drink in the wilderness; how could they survive for forty years? God had prepared much water in the rocks of the Sinai wilderness. Where did this water come from? It is not recorded, and the Bible does not say. Personally, I speculate that it might have been during Noah's Ark, because that was the only time the whole world was submerged in water, and the water was sealed inside the rocks. The shepherds did not know which rocks contained water; they could only rely on their experience to strike the rocks with their staffs. After striking, if water came out, they would drink.
I have previously shared that Moses' life can be divided into three forty-year periods. His last two forty-year periods were in one place, the Sinai wilderness. During the middle forty years, he tended sheep, and in the latter forty years, he shepherded the Israelites. Whether it was people or livestock, they all needed water in the wilderness.
Moses did not have many sheep before. When these sheep needed water, he would strike some rocks, and water would come out enough for the sheep and him to drink. But now it is different; this time he is facing over two million people. How many rocks would he need to strike to get water? This is a big problem. Moses is now leading the Israelites; there are too many people, and his previous method will not work, so he must learn to rely on God.
Perhaps in the past, he lived by his own methods, but now that he believes in Jesus, he needs to live in a new way. It may seem like he is still striking the rock with a staff, but the outcome is completely different. Therefore, Moses must rely on God to find a suitable rock. After striking it, water flowed out like rivers of living water, which is rare in the desert. The first time Moses struck the rock, water flowed out. As life in the wilderness was nearing its end, nearly forty years had passed. During these forty years, did God lead Moses and the Israelites? He led them every day, but the thoughts and intentions of the Israelites seemed to change very slowly. About forty years later, the people were thirsty again, and Moses used the same method he had used forty years ago, which proved that his thinking had not changed.
Brothers and sisters, can we share the gospel today in the same way we did forty years ago? It is not the same. The methods are much more convenient now; information is advanced, and there are many ways to share the gospel that were unimaginable in the past. The content of the gospel has not changed, but the methods have changed. Our God is not the kind of rigid God that some people think; He is also the God who leads the world forward.
Christians should not lag behind the world; they should be the ones leading the world. The first thing that needs to change is our thoughts and intentions. Unfortunately, Moses did not update his methods and still used the old ways. Brothers and sisters, please remember that our God is a living God, and He provides us with fresh supplies every day. Our thoughts and intentions must continually be renewed in God's word, constantly recognizing God's word and power. You will face your life with different faith. Amen!
The first point of sharing: Strike the Rock and Receive.
This is a story from about forty years ago when Moses first struck the rock to provide water for the people. Whether in today's text or in the past when God commanded him to strike the rock, the symbolism of the rock has not changed; it symbolizes our Lord Jesus Christ. Brothers and sisters, why do we say the rock symbolizes our Lord Jesus Christ? We need to look at a passage of scripture.
1 Corinthians 10:1-4,
1 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.
Paul reveals to us through spiritual interpretation that in the past, whether they struck the rock or spoke water from it in the wilderness, the rock represented our Lord Jesus Christ. When Paul was speaking these things, the Corinthians did not understand. Today, do you understand?
The rock represents our Lord Jesus Christ. When the rock was struck, it brought forth the supplies needed by the people. The purpose of Jesus being struck was to bring you supplies. Jesus is the supplier of all that we need. Water flowing from the rock symbolizes everything we need in our lives and existence.
For example, the health, prosperity, good relationships, and abundant life you need... all come from the rock. No matter what you need, the rock will provide. God loves you so much; He gave you Jesus. Jesus was struck precisely for your benefit, so you could be blessed and understand God's heart for you.
Brothers and sisters, have you ever thought about how easy it is for the people to receive water after the rock was struck? If at that time Moses had said, “There must be water in all these rocks; you all go find it,” it would have been very difficult for them. God told Moses which rock it was, and also told him that striking it would bring supplies for the people. You can understand that God loves you so much, so Jesus was struck to bless you. Brothers and sisters, receiving is very simple for you. From that moment on, you can expect God to meet your needs because He is such a loving God.
Exodus 17:1-6,
1 All the congregation of the children of Israel set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sin, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the people contended with Moses, and said, “Give us water that we may drink.” So Moses said to them, “Why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt the Lord?” 3 And the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses, and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”
4 So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” 5 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel. Also take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
This is the first time Moses struck the rock, and the Israelites encountered a problem. What did they do? They complained and contended. When there was a problem, they did not pray to God but contended with Moses, saying, “Give us water to drink,” just like today’s believers who do not seek God but come to the pastor and say, “Why did you make me believe in Jesus? Why did you bring me to your church? Why don’t you solve my problems?” Isn’t it just like the Israelites?
Moses himself could not solve their problems. Moses said, “Why do you contend with me?” Moses turned to God. Every time Moses had a problem, he cried out to the Lord. He said, “What shall I do with this people?” If it were an ordinary person, they would have given up long ago.
What is mentioned here is that the rock of Jesus Christ was struck on the cross so that the river of blessings could flow to us. The Israelites had just come out of Egypt and crossed the Red Sea. They followed the command of the Lord and camped in Rephidim, but there was no water to drink. The people came out with accusations, complaints, and attacks against Moses, even wanting to stone him. It was the same forty years ago, and it is the same in the text we just read, proving that this group of people had not progressed.
Forty years ago, they complained when they encountered problems; forty years later, after believing in the Lord, they still complained. In life, there are many Christians like this. When you ask them how long they have believed, they say thirty or forty years, yet when they encounter problems, they still complain and grumble, as if there is not a single good person around them. What is the reason? They have not understood God's good will and have not received God's supply.
When they complained forty years ago, Moses' response was to turn to the Lord. This is the part we need to learn from Moses. When we face challenges, the best method is to turn to God and seek answers. You may be like the Israelites, complaining to God or being dissatisfied with God and people because of difficulties. People may have rejected you, and God may not have met your demands, but remember: God still loves you. Even if you complain, disobey, or do evil, going against God, it can be affirmed that He always leads you to repentance with His grace. This is God's grace. Amen!
In verse 6, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
God's instruction to Moses was very simple: to strike the rock. But who is standing before the rock now? Our God is standing before the rock. Here, you should recall the story in the New Testament. When Jesus was struck on the cross, our Heavenly Father was actually standing before the cross, watching His Son suffer, die, and resurrect. This is what the Father saw. Just like today, through this, it can be known that although Moses struck the rock, God was standing before the rock, watching Moses strike the rock. As we just said, the rock symbolizes our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
What does Moses' staff symbolize? It is also a staff, but today’s is different from the past. In verse 5, the Lord said to Moses, “Take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river.” This tells us that when God first called Moses to go to Egypt to save the people, he took this staff, and when he struck the river, the waters of the Nile turned to blood, and all the creatures in the river died. This staff symbolizes judgment; it is a picture of judgment.
When Jesus was struck, it was because of our sins. The judgment and punishment of God should have fallen upon us, but Jesus stood in front of us and bore God's judgment for us. He suffered punishment so that we could be blessed. Amen! This is a fact.
Brothers and sisters, you must remember: only after the rock is struck can water flow out from within. After Jesus was struck, His blood flowed out, allowing your sins to be forgiven and God's blessings to flow upon you. In Jesus Christ, no matter what you need—health, prosperity, peace, or protection—Jesus has already been struck, His blood has already flowed out, and God is willing to bless you. Jesus has completed His part; He has already been struck, and His blood has flowed out. What do you need to do? Receive what flows out from Him. What is in Jesus Christ?
Colossians 2:9-10,
9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
All the fullness of God dwells bodily in Christ. Now you know what is in Jesus Christ? Everything you need, all the fullness of God is in Jesus Christ. How do you get it out? After He was struck, all the good things flowed out. It is a bit like a child's piggy bank; at first, you put things in, and when it is full, you need it, and when you break it, everything inside flows out.
This is God's blessing. All of God's blessings are in Jesus Christ. When Jesus walked on the earth, He was full of blessings, always bringing blessings to others. When He was struck on the cross, all the blessings inside Him flowed out, and you could receive them. Therefore, in Jesus Christ, God has these things. No matter what you need, you can find the answer in Christ.
After He was struck, all the blessings became your supply. But this is the staff of judgment. In verse 5, the Lord told Moses, “Take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river,” and he struck the rock before the elders of Israel.
Think about it, when Jesus was struck, who was standing in front of Jesus? The Israelites, the elders, and the priests were all standing there, right? When such things happened again, we know that in Exodus and Numbers, God had already prepared this blessing. Many people, when watching the Passion of Jesus, say, “How tragic! How heartbreaking!” You are wrong; you do not understand God's meaning. You should feel sorry for yourself: “Lord, the one who should suffer is me, but You let Jesus take my place.” This beautiful blessing, after being struck, let all the blessings flow out.
So Jesus was struck, in fact, so that you could be blessed. The rock was struck before the elders of Israel. In Matthew chapters 26 and 27, Jesus was judged, condemned, beaten, and crucified, all done in front of the elders and the people of Israel. Jesus willingly allowed Himself to be struck; if He was not struck, how could He use His life to supply us?
We have been talking about “taking your rod with which you struck the river.” Moses' rod executed judgment in Egypt. Every time Moses stretched it out, death occurred; it brought not blessings but curses. He struck the river, and the water turned to blood, bringing death. All ten plagues that Moses performed were like this; none were blessings, all were curses. So this is the staff of judgment.
When Moses went to meet God, he communicated with God in the burning bush. God said to him, “Moses, throw your rod on the ground.” That rod turned into a serpent; this was actually a sign of a curse. Then he picked it up again, and it turned back into a rod. After that, he used this rod to execute judgment in Egypt. If today you are holding this rod, would you curse and judge people everywhere?
Although the rods we hold look similar, what kind of rod are you holding? Is it the rod from forty years ago, or a different rod from forty years later? The rod from forty years ago was the rod of judgment; that rod has already fallen upon Jesus, who has already struck the rock, and water has already flowed out for us. The rod of judgment has already fallen upon Jesus; His blood has already flowed out, allowing those who believe in Him to have their sins forgiven. Jesus took our place, allowing us to receive His blessings and easily drink from the fountain of God's living water, continuously supplying us. Isn’t it beautiful? It is the love of the Father upon us. This is our first point of sharing.
The second point: Command the Rock and Receive.
Years later, the people seemed to take miracles for granted. In fact, every day in the wilderness, the Israelites saw miracles. Their clothes and shoes did not wear out for forty years. In the wilderness, there was sand, and the temperature was high. It was because of miracles that they could live in the wilderness for forty years, with God providing a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire every day...
These are all miracles, all provisions. Many people always pursue miracles, thinking that as long as they see miracles, they can believe in God, and their faith will increase. However, this is not the case. The Israelites saw miracles every day, but when they encountered problems, they still complained. Forty years later, they should have had their faith increased, but their faith had not increased; they still grumbled against their leaders. This is a typical example of living in self, without renewing themselves.
Brothers and sisters, do not be too interested in miracles; this is not the goal to pursue. Instead, pursue the truth of Jesus Christ, and miracles will naturally occur. The Israelites were people in the wilderness, but their hearts were still in Egypt. Therefore, they still thought like Egyptians, with self-centered thoughts. Moses did one thing very well: when he encountered problems, he prayed to God.
Numbers 20:7-8:
7 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 8 “Take the rod, and you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. In their sight, command the rock to yield water; and it will yield water for the congregation and their livestock to drink.”
This is the scripture we read at the beginning. After nearly forty years, they had experienced so many of God's words and miracles. At this moment, when they encountered the same problem, Moses prayed to God, and God gave him a method. It sounds similar to forty years ago: “Take the rod and gather the congregation with your brother Aaron.” Isn’t it the same as before? But the latter part is different. This time God said, “Command the rock to yield water in their sight.” Does God's word say it clearly?
Many people are a bit confused about the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament says this, and the New Testament is similar but has slightly different wording. For example, the Old Testament mentions fearing God, while the New Testament changes it to worshiping God. Aren’t these two terms similar? But their meanings are completely different. Forty years ago, God said to strike the rock; forty years later, God said to command the rock. At this moment, Moses should have believed God's word and simply commanded the rock. However, at this moment, Moses was actually confused by the Israelites. When there was no water, the people stirred up trouble against Moses, attacking Moses and Aaron.
In Numbers 20:3, the people contended with Moses, saying, “Our brethren died before the Lord; we wish we had died with them.”
I wonder if some brothers and sisters say the same when they encounter difficulties and lack faith: “I wish I could die before God; look, so-and-so prayed and died.” It’s as if our God is a God who curses people. Forty years ago, the rod Moses held indeed brought curses and judgments, but now it is different; a change has occurred.
Are we living like those under the Old Testament? Are you in the Old Testament or the New Testament? Since it is called the New Testament, it must be different from the old covenant. The Israelites lived in the Old Testament, leading a self-centered life. They stirred up trouble against Moses and even attacked Moses and Aaron. After all, Moses was human, and under the constant bombardment, he was somewhat overwhelmed and clearly affected; he was extremely irritated.
Let us look at Numbers 20:10-11,
10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock. And Moses said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their livestock drank.
They gathered the congregation together, but what they did was exactly the same as forty years ago. He forgot that God had led the people for nearly forty years. God's methods had changed. Moses said, “You rebels.” Before believing in Jesus, we were enemies with God; we were all rebels. But after Jesus bled for your sins and sacrificed Himself, are you still a rebel? Even if you still complain about your leaders and God, in God's eyes, you are no longer a rebel. Your behavior may seem like rebellion against God, but in God's eyes, you are no longer a rebel because Jesus' blood has changed your life.
However, at this moment, Moses, seeing the behavior of this group of people, immediately concluded, “You rebels.” The message he conveyed to the people was that God does not like them and does not like their way, so God will not hear their prayers; He will hear mine. He said, “Must we bring water for you out of this rock?”
Think about it; does Moses have this ability? If Moses had this ability, he would not pray to God; he would just strike the rock directly. This time, God told him to command the rock to yield water, not to strike the rock. Which is easier, to strike or to command? Commanding. When you command, you are filled with joy; when you strike, for example, when you hit your child with a rod, are you happy while doing it? Are there such parents? When you strike, are you also angry?
But when you command, wanting a result, you say it, and it is accomplished; you are blessing them, right? We live under the New Testament; the focus is not on striking with a rod but on commanding. Before commanding, it is because someone has already prepared everything that you can command.
The New Testament actually blesses us more than the Old Testament. But what Moses did this time was against God's word. God simply wanted him to take the rod and command the rock, but he rebuked the people and called them rebels. He used his rod of judgment to strike the rock twice, which was actually because he had had enough of this group of people. However, despite Moses' disobedience, God still had mercy on the people, and enough water flowed from the rock for the people and their livestock to drink. But this does not mean that what Moses did was correct. It shows God's mercy and love.
Many people pray to God in similar ways, and God also grants blessings. For example, threatening God, “If You do not accomplish this for me, I will not eat and starve myself to death; I will not believe; You do not accomplish it.” Using a threatening method like this, many times they also receive answers. They testify, saying, “Brothers and sisters, if your prayers are not answered, you should fast and starve yourself; God will not abandon you.” This is actually using Moses' method, as if our God is very indifferent, and only when you appear very pitiful will God grant a little grace.
But that is not the case. Moses' current approach does not please God. Although some people lead others to pray to God using the law and receive blessings, it does not mean that God is pleased with it. Prayers under the law may not be unanswered, but we need to understand what God's heart truly is and know which method pleases God more. Because of this matter, Moses could not enter the promised land. Some people say, “Isn’t this too unfair? Just this one mistake, and he cannot enter Canaan. Isn’t our God a bit unreasonable? Isn’t He a God full of love and grace? Why can’t Moses enter the promised land because of such a small mistake?” Was Moses' mistake small? It was very big. To what extent? Let us look at how God spoke to him.
Numbers 20:12, Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”
This verse is addressed to the leaders of the church. What does it mean? The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me…” Many people do not understand this verse, saying, “I believe in God; Moses and Aaron also believed in God.” They believe there is a God and that He is full of love and grace, but why does God say, “You did not believe Me”? In fact, they did not believe God in this matter; they used their own methods and did not do it according to God's will.
Some people say, “Your prayers are not answered because God did not accomplish it according to your method; it is because you do not believe God.” They say, “I believe in God; I believe in Jesus; I believe He bled and sacrificed for my sins on the cross.” This belief is not about not believing in God; it is about not believing in ‘that matter.’ Do you understand? In the matter of how to bring water from the rock, Moses did not believe, so he used his own method.
How many times in the past after we prayed did we still use our own methods? That is why you did not see the result. God said, “Because you did not believe Me.” In fact, He was referring to this matter, not that Moses and Aaron were not saved; it was in this matter that they did not believe God's promise, referring to a specific issue.
God's word is very simple: “You command the rock.” But they did not believe and struck the rock. What would such an action bring? It would make the congregation think that God had not forgiven their sins and was still pursuing their iniquities, causing the people to live in fear. As for why Moses could not enter Canaan, in fact, he was still leading the people with some of his own thoughts. He was living under the law. A leader with a law mindset cannot possibly lead the people to live in grace.
If I am living under the law, feeling that God is chasing me with a big stick, ready to hit me as soon as I sin, if I preach to you like this, you will definitely fear God. Moses conveyed this kind of message for forty years, making the people think that our God is an unchanging God. How many people died with that rod? Today, he struck the rock with that same rod, and the people would be very fearful. Therefore, God said, “You did not hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel.” What is the difference between Me and other gods? What does it mean to be set apart as holy? It is different. If you do not obey, I will strike you. Are not the gods of Egypt like that? “If you do not listen to me, I will punish you.” Are not the other gods in the world like that? Exactly the same. If you obey, I will bless you; if you do not obey, I will take everything away from you.
What is the difference between our God and theirs? Moses conveyed this kind of message. If a leader lives under the law, this group of people cannot possibly receive abundant blessings because all abundant blessings are not earned by one's own strength. The abundant blessings we receive come from believing in Jesus, not from striking Jesus. Thank and praise the Lord!
All our blessings now are received through the completed work of Jesus, relying on commanding rather than striking. Later, when Joshua led the team to attack Jericho, it was not by their own strength but by the words of their mouths; with a shout, the entire city of Jericho collapsed.
Once again, the rock here also symbolizes our Lord Jesus Christ. At this moment, when Moses struck the rock again, he was denying the work that Jesus accomplished on the cross. Thirty-eight years ago, when Moses first struck the rock, it referred to Jesus' suffering and death, right? After Jesus was struck, His blood flowed out, allowing us to be forgiven of our sins.
But this time, when Moses struck the rock again, it was equivalent to crucifying Jesus Christ again. This is why the Lord told Moses, “You shall command the rock,” not strike the rock. Jesus' sacrifice once is enough. Jesus' one-time sacrifice on the cross for our sins is the perfection of perfection. He shouted on the cross that the work of redemption has been eternally completed and does not need to be repeated. No one is qualified to crucify Jesus again.
Hebrews 10:12-14,
12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
You can meditate on this passage. It mentions that Jesus was struck once; He became the sin offering, paying the price of life. Just like that rock was struck, water flowed out from it. When that sin offering was killed, the blood that flowed from the holy Lamb made the offerer perfect. Are you perfect now? Yes, because Jesus shed His precious blood, you have become perfect. It says, “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” Is that you? This passage should be understood like this: because Jesus was once sacrificed and died on the cross, I am forever perfected.
What does it mean to be forever perfected? At any time, you are no longer a rebel in God's eyes but a person whom God delights in. Is this not what forever means? Moses did not understand this principle; he did not know that the rock had already been struck. From now on, he could not say that the people were rebels; he should tell the people the truth: you are loved by God.
Now that we are under the New Testament, should we preach like this? I will tell you that you are loved by God because you are a group of people cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus, and in God's eyes, you are forever perfect. Even if you complain about God and the surrounding environment, you are still perfect in God's eyes. This power will allow you to turn to God and stand up again.
Jesus offered one eternal sin offering, meaning you never need to offer sacrifices for your sins again. When God's Son Jesus was punished for you, God poured out all His wrath upon Jesus. All your sins have been resolved; your sins have been forgiven. Do not ask Jesus to come down from heaven to be crucified for your sins again. Do not pray like that anymore because no one is qualified to crucify our Jesus again.
Was Moses' mistake serious? He effectively denied the previous work of striking the rock and struck it again. Where can we find Jesus again to put Him on the cross? Isn’t it impossible to find? Once is enough; that one time changed everything from now on. What you need to do is simply command the rock.
The third point of sharing: How should we command the rock?
When you encounter a problem, what is your reaction? Command the rock; do not strike the rock by disobeying God's words like Moses did. What does it mean to strike the rock? How do we apply it in our lives? Some people strike the rock like this: they come to Jesus and say, “Heavenly Father! Please have mercy on me; please forgive my sins. I have sinned again today; let Jesus go to the cross again and shed His precious blood to cleanse me again.”
Some may have heard such prayers. Have you thought about it? Asking Jesus to go to the cross again is equivalent to striking the rock like Moses, right? Can God be pleased with this method? He will not accomplish it this way because this is striking the rock. Some people say, “Lord, I have done so much for You; please have mercy on me. I have given offerings and helped others in the church; please accomplish this for me.” Their prayers are all about begging the Lord, pleading, and asking God for just a little bit of crumbs.
I have previously told everyone that some people pray, “Lord, I do not want Your best blessings; just give me a little bit of crumbs.” People who pray like this think our God is very stingy. Is our God like that? When the rock was struck, did not all the water flow out?
After Jesus was struck, all the blessings flowed out. He absolutely does not give you just a little bit of crumbs. Do not always focus on those crumbs and say, “Lord, I know You will not give me the best; just give me a little bit of crumbs.” This is not God's intention. Therefore, many times, prayers of exchange do not get answered because people who pray like this misunderstand God, thinking He is that harsh. After Jesus was struck, you are a treasure in God's eyes; you are loved by God.
Now, what does it mean to command the rock? Commanding the rock means pointing out the work that God has already accomplished, referring to what Jesus has done on the cross. For example, when we need to thank God, how should we thank Him? “Lord Jesus! I thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. You shed Your precious blood for my sins; all my sins are forgiven.” Isn’t this all in the perfect tense?
You are declaring; you are commanding what Jesus has already accomplished. “Because You have already shed Your blood for me on the cross, You do not remember my sins anymore. You are my rock, my fortress, my refuge, and my help in times of trouble.” These are all commands, declaring the work that Jesus has already accomplished. When we know all this, the more you speak, the greater your faith will be because you know what Jesus has done for you; it is all for you, not based on what you have done to earn God's blessings.
If you are sick today, how should you command the rock? First, you must believe and say, “Lord! I believe that You shed Your blood for me on the cross, and by Your stripes, I am healed.” Isn’t this all about what Jesus has already accomplished? You cannot pray, “Lord Jesus! Hurry up and go to the cross; let those Roman soldiers whip You, and I will be healed.” This is called striking the rock.
Commanding the rock is actually declaring. Some people say, “Where in the Bible does it mention declaring? What is commanding?” It is speaking out what the Lord Jesus has already accomplished; this is called commanding, referred to as declaring. You say, “Thank You, Lord Jesus! Because of the stripes You bore, I am healed.” Your focus is on what Jesus has already done. You receive it, just like that rock; God has brought you to the rock, and you say, “Water flow out.”
God has already prepared the water here; you just need to say it, and the water will come out. Just like when you speak to a disease, it will go away, right? It is not like in the past: “Lord, I want to be hard on myself; I want to fast…” That is the Old Testament way. The New Testament is simpler; it is not about what you do; it is about what God has already done. You just need to say it in Jesus' name. If you want to live long, you should say, “Lord! I know You have promised me in the Bible that I will enjoy long life and show me Your salvation.” This is the content of Psalm 91. If you have financial needs, how should you speak? Declare what Jesus has accomplished, using God's promises in finances.
Let us read Philippians 4:19 together: And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
This week, you can meditate on this verse. What aspect do you need God to accomplish for you? Remember, in Jesus Christ, everything you need has been prepared by the Lord. You need to command and receive the blessings. If you say, “Lord! I want a turnaround in my finances,” you should say, “My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory.”
Why will He supply according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus? Are you in Christ Jesus? Yes, so God will supply all your needs abundantly in Christ Jesus. The meaning of abundantly is that it will overflow; it is not just enough; God gives you more than enough. You must first have this mindset to see this result; otherwise, you say, “Where is the abundance? Why can’t I see it?” Now God brought Moses to the rock, and Moses said, “Where is the water? Why can’t I see the water?” If you command, won’t you see it?
Many people say, “No! You let me see the miracle first, and then I will command.” Even if you see it, you still will not command. The Israelites saw miracles before but still would not act. You must first learn the spiritual principle that you can command even when you do not see. Many times, we use past experiences; past experiences do not count for anything. You cannot live today based on your past testimonies and experiences.
God is a God who continually renews. Just like now, Moses is standing before this rock. God says, “Command the rock.” This is something Moses has never done before. Does he need to update his thinking to do this? He is most skilled at striking the rock because he has been striking it for decades. When he was tending sheep in the wilderness, he constantly struck the rock. But now God says, “Command the rock.” He looked at the environment and was angered by this group of people. When he looked at the environment, it was easy to recall past experiences and testimonies. These things may not necessarily work; what is needed is God's word for you at this moment.
If God says, “Command,” you just say, “Water flow out,” and you will see a beautiful scene. After you say it, the rock will crack open, and water will flow out continuously. At that time, your faith will be uplifted. Therefore, brothers and sisters, we need to renew our thoughts and intentions. Do not live in past testimonies and experiences. Although in the past you successfully cast out demons and your prayers were answered...
Do not be fixed by your past methods. Our God is continually renewing you. As you continually recognize God's word, this word may have been understood this way in the past, but perhaps today it is no longer the same. God's leading for you is greater; your faith is greater.
In the past, you struck the rock with a rod; today God says you can command, which is a relaxed and restful life. I hope that as we begin this new week, we will meditate on God's word first.
You must believe, “Lord! Yes, I believe that Jesus has prepared everything for me. By my mouth, I declare the results I want, and I will see the results come forth.” You should meditate on what Moses did not finish and expect to see miracles happen.
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father! We thank and praise You! Thank You for leading every brother and sister, continually renewing us through Your words. You are the unchanging God; Your promises never change, but Your leading for each of us at every stage is different. Lord! You desire for us to experience You in our lives. You are the living God, leading us at all times and renewing us. With Your words given to us, we apply what we have received in our lives.
In Jesus Christ, You have prepared everything for me abundantly. I command them to become reality with my mouth. You grant me wisdom, allowing me to manifest Your glory in my work and life. I am a channel of blessing; not only am I blessed, but those around me will also be blessed. I am willing to be a channel of blessing. Thank and praise You! In the name of the Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen!
Brothers and sisters, let me answer a question for you. Some people say, “Moses did not enter Canaan; does that mean Moses was not saved?” The land of Canaan does not refer to the Kingdom of Heaven but to the land of abundant promises. After accepting Jesus, we are saved, but some people do not live out this abundant life.
Moses did not enter Canaan, which only represents that he did not inherit the abundant inheritance given by God, but he was still saved. I look forward to brothers and sisters entering abundance and inheriting the inheritance. May each person renew their thoughts and enter into God's abundant promises, living according to God's words and inheriting this abundant blessing. God bless you all!