Ex. 33:17-23, That Rock was Christ (2)

Let us now settle in on “tsur,” a rock, like a cliff.  First use is Ex. 17:6ab, of which Paul said, Christ is the Rock.”  You will see that on occasion “tsur” does not refer to Christ but to false “gods.”

·       Ex. 33:21-22: The rock in which God hid Moses, in the cleft of the rock, so that He would not die seeing the glory of God in it’s fullness.  It is only in Christ that we can see and know God and experience His presence (Jn. 14:6).

·       Num. 23:9: Balaam’s first prophecy came after meeting with God and seeing Jacob/Israel from the top of the rocks.  Acc. to Num. 22:35 it was the Angel of the Lord (preincarnate Christ) who spoke to Balaam. 

·       Dt. 8:15: Refers to the water from the rock.

·       Dt. 32:4,13,15,18,30,31,37: This is important to understanding the identity of the “rock.”  In this chapter God is, for the first time, referred to as the “Rock,” (cf. v4) and false gods are “their rock in whom they trusted” (v37).  For their rock is not like our Rock, Even our enemies themselves being judges (v31).  Dt. 32 is “The Song of Moses” which was to be learned by every Israelite.  When the Psalmists refer to God as “Rock” they are drawing from this Song, which predicts Israel future as one of rebellion against God, of God’s judgment, and of God’s faithfulness in keeping His covenant with Abraham.  This fulfillment is centered on the Christ who will rule the nations from Zion (Psalm 2).

·       Josh. 5:2-3: After crossing the Jordan, Israel made sharp (tsur) knives for circumcision.  Paul says, In Him (Christ) you also were circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ (Col. 2:11).

·       Jud. 6:21: Fire came from Gideon’s rock to consume the sacrifice when the Angel of the LORD appeared to him.

·       Jud. 7:25: Oreb and Zeeb were killed at “the rock of Oreb” and the winepress of Zeeb, so named because these Midianites had trusted these ‘gods’ for protection.

·       Jud. 13:19: This rock was where Manoah, Samson’s father, offered a sacrifice to the LORD when the Angel of the Lord appeared to him.  The AOL said His name was “wonderful” (Isa. 9:7 where Messiah is called Wonderful).

·       1 Sa. 2:2: Hannah said, neither is there any rock like our God. She knew Dt. 32.

·       1 Sa. 24:2: David hid out at En Gedi, upon the rocks of the wild goats. Not a clear reference to Christ, except that it is David.

·       2 Sa. 22:3,32,47; Ps. 18:2,31,46: We noted v3 previously. Who is a rock, save our God … the LORD liveth; and blessed by my rock.  Christ is that Rock!

·       2 Sa. 23:3: The Rock of Israel spoke to me (David).

·       1 Chron. 11:15: Thirty captains went down to the rock of David, into the cave of Adullam.  The rock of Oreb speaks of an idol; the rock of David the true God.