Exodus 17:1-7 NIV
“The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?” But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?” Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.” The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
INSIGHT
-Massah means trials and tribulations in Hebrew while Meribah means quarrel. The Israelites complained continuously as their suffering in Egypt had been of a different nature, for they lacked water. Their despair was evident in the fact that they wanted to stone Moses for their provisions had dried up in the desert. They had stopped trusting in God even after delivering them from Egypt and showing them diverse signs and wonders. They now were looking to Moses the man, as their source and provider. They forgot the ten plagues that the Lord sent to the Egyptians, and the slitting of the Red Sea securing their lives. They forgot the Lord who led them with a pillar of fire by night giving them light and a pillar of cloud by day showing them direction (Exodus 13:21). They wasted their lives in the desert going round for forty years in the wilderness and all the men of military age when they left Egypt had died and they did not see the promised land (Joshua 5:6). We are called to give thanks to God always and trust in Him for He is the Rock of our salvation.
PRAYER
Lord You are our Rock, Fortress and Deliverer. Our God You are our Rock, in whom we take refuge, our Shield and the horn of our salvation, our Stronghold in whom we put our trust. Some trust in horses, others trust in chariots but we put our trust in You our Lord and God. May You protect and preserve our children as they go back to school and cover them with Your precious blood. May You grant them good success in their studies and guide them in the way they should go. May You also guide us with Your pillar of cloud by the day lest the sun smites us, and by a cloud of fire by the night to give us the Light of Your salvation. May You forgive us all our sins and protect us from the schemes of the enemy. May You bless us and expand our territories dear Jesus. May You lead through out the week and provide new opportunities for us to prosper in the purposes for which You have anointed us. We give You glory Lord and honor You. You are our God and our Savior, our Shield and Protection, in You we put our trust. Amen
Further reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Psalms 27:1-8 NIV
“The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord. Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek.”
INSIGHT
-The poetic narrations of king David reveal his passion and love for God, as his heart was after God’s own heart. When he was pursued by his enemies, he trusted in God. When he was confronted by evil men, He believed in God’s protection, setting him high upon a rock, a place of safety. We find the advantages accrued for soughting after the face of God in the life of David. He was loved, favored and blessed by God, together with his generation.
PRAYER
How lovely is Your dwelling place, Lord Almighty. My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young a place near Your altar, Lord Almighty, our King and God. Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they are ever praising You. We wait on You our Lord and God, our Refuge and Strength. May You help us when we are weak and save us from our enemies. Save us from shame and disaster. Protect and preserve us in Your arm dear Jesus. Our hearts yearn for You Lord, may You teach us to seek first Your kingdom and righteousness, and all other things You will add unto us. Teach us to do Your will Lord God Almighty. We pray this believing and trusting in Jesus Mighty name. Amen
Further reading: Psalms 84:1–12
Matthew 16:16-19 NIV
“Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
INSIGHT
-Interested in knowing whether they understood who He was, Jesus asked His disciples saying, “who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Probably some among the disciples thought He was one of these. Jesus also asked who they thought He was and Peter responded as the Father revealed to him. Upon Peter’s revelation of Jesus, the Messiah and Son of the living God, Jesus built His church. Many have argued differently regarding this scriptures. Since all scriptures point to Christ, Peter is not the rock but Christ is (1 Corinthians 10:4). The revelation of the truth regarding Christ is the rock upon which the eccesia was founded. When we have Christ in our lives, we have power and dominion to overcome all the deceptions of the devil, the power of eternal death and hades, for Christ is the Founder and Ruler of the church.
PRAYER
Lord we believe in You and Your word. We believe that You came for us. You died for us and resurrected for us, for our everlasting life and victory over eternal death and hades. Thank You Lord for showing us great life, and for laying Your life for us Your friends. We pray for the church, the body of Christ that You may lead Your children in the true doctrine. Jesus You are the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through You. May You touch and transform the souls and lives of all those who do not know You as Lord and Savior, Messiah of the world. May You show us the path of life and lead us on a straight path for Your righteousness sake. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now, and forevermore. Amen
Further reading: Luke 24:27, Matthew 16:12
1 Corinthians 10:3-4 NIV
“They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.”
INSIGHT
-Apostle Paul describes the vain practices of the corinthians who sacrificed food to idols and ate it. In 1 Corinthians 8:4 he discloses that, “So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” Paul then reveals the history of their forefathers who experienced God’s provision, protection and preservation in the wilderness. They ate spiritual food in form of manna from heaven and drunk water from a spiritual rock that accompanied them. Paul establishes the importance of total reliance on Christ who is the Rock, apart from their gods. The Rock of ages who delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, and has the power to deliver us from any form of temptation too.
PRAYER
There is no one holy like You Lord; there is no one besides You; there is no Rock like You our God. Oh God may You forgive us for the sins we have done. For any form of idolatry that we, our nation, our leaders, our families and our people have practiced. May You guide us in the right path and reveal Your true salvation and to all who do not know You, that none shall worship any other god but You alone our Rock of Ages. The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength. Those who were full hire themselves out for food, but those who were hungry are hungry no more. She who was barren has borne seven children, but she who has had many sons pines away. May You release the gift of children to all those who wait on You Abba Father. Lord You bring death and make alive; You bring down to the grave and raises up. Lord You send poverty and wealth; You humble and exalt. You raise the poor from the dust and lift the needy from the ash heap; You seat them with princes and have them inherit a throne of honor. The foundations of the earth are Yours Lord; on them You have set the world.
Further reading: 1 Samuel 2:2-10, 1 Corinthians 8:6
Matthew 7:24-27 NIV
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
INSIGHT
-Obedience to God’s word has been likened to a builder on the rock Upon the rock alone who is Christ can we stand firm. Even when temptations and destruction by torrential rains that cause disastrous floods, their houses remain steady. But those who disobey God’s word are foolish and compared to a house that is built on sand, and when the wind blew it fell.
SUMMARY
There are two Hebrew words that predominantly describe the Rock as our God and His attributes are evidenced through this theme. Sela‘ is rooted in the words for a fissure or split, hence the picture of God as a rock of refuge and a hiding place that provides security. Tsur is more massive, very safe, and virtually impenetrable like a mountain stronghold. It speaks of God’s strength, endurance, and reliability. The scriptures outlines God as the Rock from the beginning to the end, for He is the Beginning and the End. In Genesis 49:24, God is described as the Rock of Israel, the Mighty One of Jacob and the Shepherd. He is described as our guide and protector from danger and harm. He preserves us as He did for the Israelites. Psalms 18:2 king David describes Him as my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalms 71:3 reveals God as my rock of refuge, my rock and fortress and give the command to save us. Secondly the Lord is our rock and offers us guidance and direction as the good Shepherd. As He guided the Israelites in the wilderness with a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire by night offering light. Thirdly, the Lord is our provider. He provided water for the Israelites from a rock that Moses struck at Horeb (Exodus 17:1-7). 1 Corinthians 10:3-4 elaborates that the Israelites ate spiritual food and drank spiritual drink from the spiritual rock who is Christ. Fourthly, the church is founded on the Rock who is Christ. Upon Peter’s revelation of Christ as the Son of the living God and Messiah, the church was founded and built (Matthew 16:16-19). Christ is indeed risen and He has given us the power and authority to trample over snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy. The body of Christ is powerful and true indeed the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Lastly, the Rock is our faith and hope of salvation. Matthew 7:24-27 reminds us that, when we build our houses upon the Rock, even when winds, rains and storms come, we will remain standing upon Him, forever and ever. Amen
PRAYER
The stone that the builders rejected has became the chief corner stone. There is no salvation in anyone else; and there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved apart from Your name Jesus. In Your Name Jesus we find protection, preservation, provision, healing, salvation and victory over all our adversaries and tribulations. Lord You are our Rock and Refuge in You we run to and are safe. Thank You God for all You have done for us and all You have been to us. We cannot manage anything without You. In You we live, breathe, move and have our being. Dear Lord we pray that You shall forgive us for all the iniquity and disobedience we have had towards You. May You wash and cleanse us by Your precious blood and word Jesus Christ. We pray that we shall take heed to Your word as You tell us that we shall build our houses that is our faith and our lives on You Christ our solid rock and firm foundation. We give You glory Lord and we honor You, now and forever. Amen
Further reading: 1 Peter 2:6-8, Luke 8:5-8