He opened the rock, and water gushed out; It ran in the dry places like a river.
Psalm 105:41 (NKJV)
The Moses Backstory
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. 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.
Exodus 17:5–6 (NKJV)
7 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 8 “Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, 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 animals.” 9 So Moses took the rod from before the Lord as He commanded him. 10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he 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 animals 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.”
Numbers 20:7–12 (NKJV)
Obedience v. Works
- Moses obeyed God when He asked Him to strike the rock
- In his anger and frustration, he disobeyed God by striking the rock the second time when God had instructed him to speak to the rock.
- Are you just working for God when He told you to know Him?
- It is time to speak to the Rock!
- God is looking for His disciples to know Him as a child, not just work for Him as an employee.
Another Story
38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” 41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.
Luke 10:38–42 (NKJV)
Works v. Intimacy
- The Martha/Mary Comparison
- Martha was cooking, cleaning, preparing. Mary simply sat at the feet of Jesus.
- Martha thought Mary was being lazy and irresponsible. She asked Jesus to send her to the kitchen.
- Are you working toward the approval of God, or are you sitting at His feet, communing with Him, receiving His words?
- Do you have a working relationship with God, or an intimate relationship with God?
He opened the rock, and water gushed out; It ran in the dry places like a river.
Psalm 105:41 (NKJV)
Speak to the Rock, for when you do, He will send the refreshing river of His Holy Spirit into your dry places!
Greg Sloop
Takeaway Thoughts
- Works (Familiar, Normal, Logical) v. Obedience (Intimacy, Communication, Understanding)
- Works (Busyness, Tasks, Responsibility) v. Intimacy (Time, Surrender, Conversation, Knowledge)
- Speak to the Rock!
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Devoted To You 
