Moses striking the rock twice was significant because it contradicted God's instruction to speak to the rock and, as Les Feldick teaches, violated the picture of Christ as the rock that is smitten only once.
In Exodus 17, God commanded Moses to strike the rock, and water came out (Exodus 17:6). In Numbers 20, when Israel again complained of thirst, God told Moses to take the rod and speak to the rock (Numbers 20:8), but Moses struck it twice instead (Numbers 20:11). Paul says the rock was Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4), and Les emphasizes that Christ was smitten once for our offenses and is not to be smitten again. After the finished work of the cross, believers approach Christ by speaking to Him in faith and prayer, not by another smiting.
Exodus 17:6 — God commanded Moses to strike the rock the first time, and water came out for the people and livestock.
Numbers 20:8 — God's second instruction was for Moses to speak to the rock, not to strike it.
Numbers 20:11 — This verse records Moses disobeying by striking the rock twice.
1 Corinthians 10:4 — Paul identifies the wilderness rock as Christ, giving the New Testament interpretive key.
In Exodus 17, after Israel murmured for water, the Lord told Moses to take his rod and go to the rock in Horeb. The Lord said, "Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink" (Exodus 17:6). Moses did so, and the people and their livestock drank. In Numbers 20, when the congregation again had no water, God gave Moses a different instruction: "Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water" (Numbers 20:8). Instead of speaking, "Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also" (Numbers 20:11). In the New Testament, the apostle Paul explains the spiritual meaning: "And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ" (1 Corinthians 10:4). Thus Scripture itself identifies the wilderness rock as Christ and sets up the contrast between one commanded smiting and a command to speak.
Les Feldick teaches that whenever Scripture uses a typical reference to a rock, it refers to Christ and never deviates (Clip 1). He points out that in Exodus 17, God told Moses to strike the rock, and this pictured Christ being smitten once for our offenses (Clips 2, 6). The water that came out was the spiritual drink, and the rock that followed Israel was Christ (Clip 7). In Numbers 20, Les explains, Moses was supposed to speak to the rock, but instead he took his rod and struck it, contrary to God's instruction (Clips 1, 6). For Les, the central lesson is that "you don't smite Christ twice." Christ was smitten once — the Hebrew word is "once" — and went to the cross once (Clip 6). Because Christ's work is finished, believers on this side of the cross do not appropriate anything by another crucifixion; they approach Him by faith and by speaking/communication — that is, through prayer and calling upon Him (Clips 3, 4, 6).
In Exodus 17, God told Moses to strike the rock with his rod, and water flowed out for the people and their livestock (Clip 2). Les stresses that this was God's command, and the striking pictured Christ being smitten for our offenses (Clip 6). Paul later says that the spiritual rock, which followed Israel, was Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4), and Les repeats that the rock is always Christ (Clip 1).
In Numbers 20, when Israel again complained of thirst, God told Moses to take the rod and speak to the rock (Clip 6). Les's emphasis is that the instruction changed from striking to speaking. Yet Moses, at the end of his patience, struck the rock with his rod instead of speaking to it, contrary to God's instruction (Clip 6). For Les, this matters because Christ was smitten once and is not to be smitten again (Clip 6).
Les teaches that Christ was smitten for our offenses, and that Hebrew word is "once" — He went to the cross once (Clip 6). Now that He has arisen and the work of the cross is finished, believers do not appropriate His work by another crucifixion or another smiting (Clip 3). Instead, they appropriate it by faith and by communication — speaking to Him, praising Him, petitioning Him in prayer (Clips 3, 4). That is why Les says, "You don't smite Christ twice" — after the once-for-all smiting, the proper approach is to speak to the living Christ.
Yes. Les says that in every typical reference, the rock is Christ, and it will never deviate (Clip 1). Whether it was the rock struck in Exodus or the rock Moses struck again in Numbers, the rock is still Christ (Clip 1). Paul's statement in 1 Corinthians 10:4 that the rock was Christ is the scriptural basis.
The Second Water Crisis
Les reads Numbers 20, showing Israel gathered against Moses and Aaron because there was no water for the congregation or their livestock; this sets the scene for the crisis before the second striking.
The Rock Is Always Christ
Les explains that Paul in 1 Corinthians 10 makes plain that the wilderness rock was Christ, and every typical rock reference in Scripture is Christ.
God's Command to Strike the Rock
In Exodus 17, God stood on the rock in Horeb and commanded Moses to strike it, and water flowed out for Israel and their livestock.
Speak After the Smiting
Once Christ has been smitten and raised, believers don't approach by another crucifixion but by speaking to Him in fellowship and prayer.
Appropriate the Finished Work by Faith
Les shows that the rock was smitten once, and on this side of the cross believers appropriate that finished work by faith.
The Rod in the First Command
God told Moses to take the shepherd's rod with which he smote the river; in Exodus 17 the rod was used to strike the rock at Horeb.
Do Not Smite Christ Twice
Les contrasts God's instruction to speak to the rock with Moses' act of striking it, emphasizing that Christ was smitten once and never again.
The Spiritual Rock Was Christ
Paul says the spiritual rock followed Israel, and Les capitalizes 'Rock' because that Rock was Christ.
Exodus 17:6: Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
This first smiting was God's explicit command, establishing the rock as the source of water and the object that must be struck once.
Numbers 20:8: Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
This verse records God's later instruction to speak to the rock rather than to strike it.
Numbers 20:11: And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
This verse records Moses' disobedience in striking the rock twice instead of speaking to it.
1 Corinthians 10:4: And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
Paul reveals the spiritual identity of the wilderness rock as Christ.
In Numbers 20, the people complained about having no water and gathered against Moses and Aaron. God told Moses to take the rod and speak to the rock, but Moses, at the end of his patience, lifted his rod and smote the rock twice. Les teaches that this was contrary to God's instruction because Christ, the rock, was smitten only once.
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:4 that the spiritual rock that followed Israel "was Christ." Les repeatedly says that whenever Scripture makes a typical reference to the rock, it always refers to Christ and never deviates.
Les emphasizes that "you don't smite Christ twice." Christ suffered and died once for our offenses, and on this side of the cross believers don't appropriate anything by another smiting. Instead, they approach Him by faith and by speaking to Him in prayer, fellowship, and communication.
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