Who was Moses smiting when he smote the rock?
When Moses struck the rock, he was smiting Christ, the spiritual Rock that followed Israel. The rock typified the smitten Christ, who was smitten for transgressions as Isaiah 53 foretold, pointing to His once-for-all crucifixion. Scripture teaches this smiting prefigured the cross, where Christ was crucified once for all.
Les explains that when Moses took the shepherd's rod and smote the rock, he was smiting Christ. The context of 1 Corinthians 10 identifies the rock that followed Israel as Christ, so the smitten rock pictures the smitten Christ. Les connects this to Isaiah 53, where Christ was smitten for transgressions, referring to the cross. Because of the work of the cross, God can pour out living water. Les emphasizes that Christ was crucified only once, as Hebrews says He did once, never more than once, unlike the high priests who repeated their sacrifices.