Deut. 32:1-4,28-33, The Rock (1)

Similar to the “manifold” name of God from Ex. 34:6-7, the original reference to God as Israel’s “Rock” also shows up frequently throughout the OT.  The original reference is in Deut. 32 in what is called “The Song of Moses.”

Moses was directed by God to write this song so that the people of Israel could remember what God said was going to happen in the future.  The gist of the future was that Israel would continue to be stiff-necked and rebellious, so that eventually God would judge them severely.  Eventually, for the sake of God’s name among the Gentiles/Nations, God would show mercy and restore Israel. 

God’s name highlighted in this song is The Rock.  The Hebrew is tsuwr, and the first two uses of this word in the OT are significant.  First, it is the rock Moses struck and brought forth water for the people (Ex. 17:9; Deut. 8:15).  Second, it is the rock God used to shield Moses from His glory, placing Moses in the cleft of the rock.  Both of these events speak of the greatness of God.  used in Ex. 33:21-22,

Let’s look at this name in Dt. 32.

·       32:3-4: Moses introduces the name at the outset, describing God’s greatness by calling Him the Rock whose work is perfect and ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice, righteous and upright is He.  This is important.  Israel will be judged; in every situation God, their Rock, will be perfect and just in His acts.

·       32:12-13: God would bless Israel, making him draw honey from the rock, and oil from the flinty rock, a picture of Israel’s prosperity.  Note the 2 “rocks”.  First is cela, used in Num. 20:8-11 of the second rock from which God brought water, when Moses acted in anger and pride.  The second is the term we are using here.

·       32:15: After God blessed Israel, he became obese with God’s blessing, and forsook God who made him, and scornfully esteemed the Rock of his salvation.

·       32:18: Chasing after idols (foreign gods, abominations), of the Rock who begot you, you are unmindful, and have forgotten the God who fathered you.  Note again how this name is important to Israel early in her existence as a nation.

·       32:30: Thus, God would forsake Israel; His anger would burn against her, heaping disaster upon disaster upon her.  She would flee in fear from her enemies because their Rock had sold them.

·       32:31: Even the nations to whom the LORD gave them would know, that their rock (the rock or god of the nations) is not like our Rock (the God of Israel).

·       32:37: In their weakness, God will say: Where are their gods, the rock in which they sought refuge. 

The LORD gave this song to Moses.  So God is speaking of Himself in this way so as to reveal Himself to Israel.  The song was to be a reminder to Israel of God’s greatness and of her stubborn rebellion.  Who is your Rock?