Observation: Paul is sharing his interpretation of lessons learned from the story of Moses and the Israelites escaping slavery through the Red Sea and wandering in the wilderness. He compares passing through the Red Sea, led by the cloud of God's presence, to a baptism. The people were changed by the journey of faith. They were fed by "spiritual food," or manna from God, and drank the same "spiritual drink," or water from the rock which God provided (Exodus 17). In Paul's view, the rock was Christ.
Application: There's a lot going on in these few short verses, but the part that draws me back are the last four words: "the rock was Christ." Even though Jesus is not mentioned in the Hebrew Bible at all, Paul believed that the eternal Christ existed even in the time of Moses. The same Messiah who saved the world from sin on the cross, saved the people of Israel in the dry and weary wilderness. Often, when Jesus has been helping me, it's not until a long time later that I realize it really was Jesus. We may feel we're doing pretty well "on our own," until we realize he's the "rock in a weary land" that has followed us through the hardest times.
Prayer: Jesus, as you provided for the Israelites in the wilderness, you are providing for my spirit today. Thank you. Amen.
If this devotion brought up this gospel song in your head, you may as well give it a listen.
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