Passover to Tabernacles - Part Six Dec 05, 2021 by: John Herbert | Series: Passover to Tabernacles Audio Study Notes PDF https://s3.amazonaws.com/cornerstonejax/sermonfiles/T003_20211205.mp3 Refresh A Recap from the Sermon Jn 2:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Today we will continue to look at what took place at Calvary two thousand years ago. The full text of this message can be found by clicking the PDF button. Sunday December 5th 2021 Passover to Tabernacles Part 6 1). Ex 12:5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. 6 Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. We have seen from our previous weeks of study that God had given the Passover lambs to Israel to slay; given to the nation that remains the pupil of His eye, the only people through whom He has chosen to work. And because of this, they were the only nation to whom the lambs could have been given and the only ones who could be commanded to kill them. And this is what they did in faithful obedience to God’s command before they left Egypt. a). And having done so on the night of the first Passover God had delivered them from Egypt to take them to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. b). The death and shed blood of the lambs and the application of the blood in faithful obedience, brought a great deliverance from the hands of the most powerful nation on the earth at that time. A prophetic event which provides the type for an even greater deliverance from the hands of the most powerful man the world will have ever seen, the Antichrist, when the feast of Passover is finally brought to fulfillment in the seventy-five days following the end of the time of Jacob’s trouble. c). And then in Exodus Chapter 17, in an event that parallels the killing of the lambs in Egypt, Moses was commanded to strike the Rock – Ex 17: 6 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. 7 So he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contention of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?” And as Moses struck the Rock in faithful obedience, so water came from the Rock for the people and their livestock to drink. A physical provision for natural life during the wilderness journey on the one hand and a spiritual provision to provide for life in the land of promise on the other - 1 Co10:3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. We have also seen that the water that came from the Rock, along with eating the flesh of the lambs and the manna, pictures God’s complete spiritual provision for His eternally saved people, that if received and faithfully followed, would provide all that is necessary to sustain them on their journey, bringing them successfully to the goal of their calling. d). And we had also seen that the types provided through the flesh of the lambs, the manna and the water from the Rock were fulfilled in the antitype, in the Christ, who gave the command to eat His flesh and drink His blood. And both His flesh and His blood picture one thing, just as in the types, His Word. The Word that was made flesh. The Word which gives life. e). And as we think about His blood in this context, we should not focus on the viscous substance that ran through the Lord’s veins, but rather on that which His blood provides for those who avail themselves of it, a cleansing for the sin of the saved. And that which God has provided for us, to see us safely through our pilgrim journey, providing cleansing along the way as we become contaminated through our contact with sin, is His Word – Ps 109:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. Pr 6:20 My son, keep your father's command, And do not forsake the law of your mother. 21 Bind them continually upon your heart; Tie them around your neck. 22 When you roam, they will lead you; When you sleep, they will keep you; And when you awake, they will speak with you. 23 For the commandment is a lamp, And the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life……….. 2 Pe 1:3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. To eat the Lord’s flesh and drink His blood is exactly what we are commanded to do in Ephesians, although different words are used – Eph 5:18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be [continually] filled with the Spirit, With further confirmation and explanation of this verse given in – Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And letting the Word of Christ dwell in us richly in all wisdom, cannot be separated from the process of the metamorphosis which is brought about within us – Ro 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Or to say this yet another way – Eph 4:22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. And the companion verses to these in Colossians – Col 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. And as we compare Scripture with Scripture in this way, we can see why ‘eating His flesh and drinking His blood’ is essential for having life in the age to come. 2). Now, if we go back to the striking of the Rock in Exodus Chapter 17, we will remember that not only did this look back to the striking of the lambs in Egypt but also looked forward to the striking of the Lord at Calvary one thousand five hundred years later, as the nation’s Passover Lamb – Jn 2:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! And from what we have already seen from Exodus Chapter 12, Israel had been given the Lamb to slay and He could not be slain by any other. And this has been witnessed through their faithful obedience in slaying the lambs at the first Passover and then continuing to do so throughout their generations, foreshadowing the sacrifice of the Lamb of God at Calvary. a). However, when we came to Numbers Chapter 20, where Moses struck the Rock twice, we saw that Moses acted in disobedience – Nu 20: 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.” The word translated ‘Rock’ in Numbers, we will remember, has the idea of height or elevation, that which is high and lifted-up, whereas the word for Rock in Exodus does not contain that idea at all. That seen in striking the Rock in Numbers then, is the same as that seen in striking the Rock in Exodus Chapter 17, the crucifixion of Christ, and as the two are put together so they provide the complete picture of that event from a Jewish perspective. b). We had seen that Moses was commanded to speak to the Rock in Numbers, the same Rock he had struck in Exodus. And in striking the Rock twice rather than speaking to the Rock, Moses’ act of disobedience was so serious, that he was not allowed to enter the land of promise because of it. c). But even though Moses acted in serious disobedience, we are told in Numbers 20:11, that water came from the Rock ‘abundantly’. And the water that came from the Rock, struck in disobedience, provided the very same function, physical and spiritual provision, as that which came from the Rock when He was struck in Exodus. Which would lead us to ask the questions, ‘How could disobedience result in abundant spiritual provision? And why did Moses strike the Rock twice in Numbers when he had only needed to strike it once in Exodus?’ d). Well, as we had seen last time, the answers to these questions are to be found in understanding what took place at the Lord’s first advent and His crucifixion. If this is understood then the double striking of the Rock recorded in Numbers Chapter 20 and Moses’ rejection with respect to entering the land because of it, will easily fall into place - Mt 27:11 Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.”……………. 37 And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. It is so important that we understand that Jesus came to the nation of Israel as their King, the promised Son of David, and all the signs He performed in their midst attested to that fact – Isa 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. However, following the nation’s rejection of Him and the Kingdom of the heavens He offered, His focus turned towards the cross – Mt 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. But the role of the suffering servant and the sacrificial Lamb, was not how He presented Himself to the nation. And nor was this the way the nation saw Him – Mt 21:9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Hosanna in the highest!” And inspired by their religious leaders, the nation called for the crucifixion of their King - Jn 19:14 Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” 15 But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!” The Jewish leaders, and by association the Jewish people, knowingly put to death their King, but at the same time, in doing so, they unknowingly, had killed their Passover Lamb. There could never be any condemnation for them for killing the Lamb of God, because this they had been given to do, but there certainly was condemnation for killing their King – Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; Acts 7:52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, And it is in the duality seen in the Lord’s crucifixion, the killing of their Passover Lamb in ignorance and the killing of their King knowingly, that we find the antitype of Moses striking the Rock twice in Numbers Chapter 20. Striking the Rock once would take us straight back to the striking of the Passover lambs in Egypt, an action that followed God’s commandment, foreshadowing the killing of the Lamb of God, also done in accordance with the same command, although done unknowingly. Then striking the Rock a second time, not seen in Exodus Chapter 17, foreshadowed the killing of their King, a deliberate and intentional act committed in unbelief. e). And because of the nation’s unbelief, resulting in the death of their King, that national generation and all subsequent generations, can never enter the Kingdom of the heavens that had been offered to them. And this is seen in the type of Moses, who pictures Israel, not being allowed to enter the land covenanted to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. f). And it is because of the killing of the nation’s Passover Lamb unknowingly, an act in accordance with God’s command to do so, that water came ‘abundantly’ from the twice struck Rock in Numbers Chapter 20. g). As we have seen, it is because Israel killed their Passover Lamb that we are now, following the Lord’s resurrection and ascension, able to ‘eat His flesh and drink His blood’, which is supplied to us abundantly as the Bread of Life is brought forth from above - Jn 16: Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. 1 Co 2: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. Ge 24:53 Then the servant brought out jewelry of silver, jewelry of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother. Israel’s King was killed and at the same moment the nation’s Passover Lamb was slain. But unlike the account in Exodus Chapter 12, the blood of the slain Lamb has not yet been appropriated by the Jewish people, nor could it be as they still have no understanding of what took place in Jerusalem that day. h). The appropriation of the blood must wait until that future day when the nation will look on Him whom they pierced. At last recognizing Jesus for who He is – Mt 16:16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Ge 45:3 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. 4 And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. We know what awaits the coming of this day for Israel. And, remarkably, the timeframe for this can be seen in Numbers Chapter 19, preceding the striking of the Rock twice in Chapter 20 - Nu 19:11 “He who touches the dead body of anyone shall be unclean seven days. 12 He shall purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third day and on the seventh day, he will not be clean. 13 Whoever touches the body of anyone who has died, and does not purify himself, defiles the tabernacle of the LORD. That person shall be cut off from Israel. He shall be unclean, because the water of purification was not sprinkled on him; his uncleanness is still on him. The type here of the Jew who is unclean because of contact with a dead body, points to national Israel, God’s adopted firstborn son, and their uncleanness through contact with the dead body of their King two thousand years ago. And as we see from the type cleansing is necessary on the third day and the seventh day, if the one who is unclean is not to be cut off. i). Within God’s timeframe we would count the three days to be the two days, the two thousand years of the dispensation given to the Jews, with the third day following. And the third day following the close of the dispensation for the Jews, which will be completed by Daniel’s seventieth week, the seven years of the Tribulation, is also the seventh day from Adam, the Millennial Kingdom. And therefore, cleansing will take place on the third day and the seventh day. j). It will be then, at the end of the tribulation, the full two days given to Israel being complete, that the nation will appropriate the blood of their Passover Lamb and will be cleansed from their contact with the death of their Messiah, the King whom they killed – Eze 36:24 For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. 28 Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. 29 I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses………. As we would expect, all fits perfectly into God’s seven-thousand-year timeframe established in Genesis Chapter 1. k). The Rock struck twice in Numbers gives us the nation’s disobedience in killing their King, but also the sacrifice of their Passover Lamb that has provided for their future deliverance and cleansing on the third day, which is also the seventh day. 3). The instructions regarding uncleanness through contact with a dead body, as we have seen, comes before the Rock is struck twice in Chapter 20. And these are two of a triad of types seen in Numbers. a). In Chapter 19 then, we see death and uncleanness in relation to a dead body. In Chapter 20 we see disobedience and rejection through striking the Rock twice. And then in Chapter 21 we see this – Nu 21:4 Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. 5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.” 6 So the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died. 7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD that He take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived. In these verses from Chapter 21 we again see disobedience, And the people spoke against God and against Moses. And that which they complained about will be very familiar, For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread. b). And it is because of Israel’s disobedience, that the Lord sent ‘fiery serpents’, poisonous snakes, among the people, and many of the people were bitten and subsequently died – Ro 6:23 For the wages of sin is death…………. Then following the nation’s recognition of their sin, God instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent and lift it up on a pole. Anyone who was then bitten by a fiery serpent could look at the bronze serpent on its pole, and that person would live and not die. c). And it is this incident from Numbers Chapter 21, that Jesus referred to in His conversation with Nicodemus in John Chapter 3, pointing to Himself being lifted-up on the cross - Jn 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. To understand why Jesus referred to this in His conversation with Nicodemus and to understand what was going on in the wilderness in Numbers Chapter 21 will have to wait until next time though, if we remain and the Lord is willing. And we have prayed. Passover to Tabernacles - Part Six Dec 05, 2021 Speaker: John Herbert Series: Passover to Tabernacles Category: Sunday Morning https://s3.amazonaws.com/cornerstonejax/sermonfiles/T003_20211205.mp3 Download Audio x
Refresh A Recap from the Sermon Jn 2:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Today we will continue to look at what took place at Calvary two thousand years ago. The full text of this message can be found by clicking the PDF button. Sunday December 5th 2021 Passover to Tabernacles Part 6 1). Ex 12:5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. 6 Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. We have seen from our previous weeks of study that God had given the Passover lambs to Israel to slay; given to the nation that remains the pupil of His eye, the only people through whom He has chosen to work. And because of this, they were the only nation to whom the lambs could have been given and the only ones who could be commanded to kill them. And this is what they did in faithful obedience to God’s command before they left Egypt. a). And having done so on the night of the first Passover God had delivered them from Egypt to take them to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. b). The death and shed blood of the lambs and the application of the blood in faithful obedience, brought a great deliverance from the hands of the most powerful nation on the earth at that time. A prophetic event which provides the type for an even greater deliverance from the hands of the most powerful man the world will have ever seen, the Antichrist, when the feast of Passover is finally brought to fulfillment in the seventy-five days following the end of the time of Jacob’s trouble. c). And then in Exodus Chapter 17, in an event that parallels the killing of the lambs in Egypt, Moses was commanded to strike the Rock – Ex 17: 6 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. 7 So he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contention of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?” And as Moses struck the Rock in faithful obedience, so water came from the Rock for the people and their livestock to drink. A physical provision for natural life during the wilderness journey on the one hand and a spiritual provision to provide for life in the land of promise on the other - 1 Co10:3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. We have also seen that the water that came from the Rock, along with eating the flesh of the lambs and the manna, pictures God’s complete spiritual provision for His eternally saved people, that if received and faithfully followed, would provide all that is necessary to sustain them on their journey, bringing them successfully to the goal of their calling. d). And we had also seen that the types provided through the flesh of the lambs, the manna and the water from the Rock were fulfilled in the antitype, in the Christ, who gave the command to eat His flesh and drink His blood. And both His flesh and His blood picture one thing, just as in the types, His Word. The Word that was made flesh. The Word which gives life. e). And as we think about His blood in this context, we should not focus on the viscous substance that ran through the Lord’s veins, but rather on that which His blood provides for those who avail themselves of it, a cleansing for the sin of the saved. And that which God has provided for us, to see us safely through our pilgrim journey, providing cleansing along the way as we become contaminated through our contact with sin, is His Word – Ps 109:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. Pr 6:20 My son, keep your father's command, And do not forsake the law of your mother. 21 Bind them continually upon your heart; Tie them around your neck. 22 When you roam, they will lead you; When you sleep, they will keep you; And when you awake, they will speak with you. 23 For the commandment is a lamp, And the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life……….. 2 Pe 1:3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. To eat the Lord’s flesh and drink His blood is exactly what we are commanded to do in Ephesians, although different words are used – Eph 5:18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be [continually] filled with the Spirit, With further confirmation and explanation of this verse given in – Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And letting the Word of Christ dwell in us richly in all wisdom, cannot be separated from the process of the metamorphosis which is brought about within us – Ro 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Or to say this yet another way – Eph 4:22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. And the companion verses to these in Colossians – Col 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. And as we compare Scripture with Scripture in this way, we can see why ‘eating His flesh and drinking His blood’ is essential for having life in the age to come. 2). Now, if we go back to the striking of the Rock in Exodus Chapter 17, we will remember that not only did this look back to the striking of the lambs in Egypt but also looked forward to the striking of the Lord at Calvary one thousand five hundred years later, as the nation’s Passover Lamb – Jn 2:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! And from what we have already seen from Exodus Chapter 12, Israel had been given the Lamb to slay and He could not be slain by any other. And this has been witnessed through their faithful obedience in slaying the lambs at the first Passover and then continuing to do so throughout their generations, foreshadowing the sacrifice of the Lamb of God at Calvary. a). However, when we came to Numbers Chapter 20, where Moses struck the Rock twice, we saw that Moses acted in disobedience – Nu 20: 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.” The word translated ‘Rock’ in Numbers, we will remember, has the idea of height or elevation, that which is high and lifted-up, whereas the word for Rock in Exodus does not contain that idea at all. That seen in striking the Rock in Numbers then, is the same as that seen in striking the Rock in Exodus Chapter 17, the crucifixion of Christ, and as the two are put together so they provide the complete picture of that event from a Jewish perspective. b). We had seen that Moses was commanded to speak to the Rock in Numbers, the same Rock he had struck in Exodus. And in striking the Rock twice rather than speaking to the Rock, Moses’ act of disobedience was so serious, that he was not allowed to enter the land of promise because of it. c). But even though Moses acted in serious disobedience, we are told in Numbers 20:11, that water came from the Rock ‘abundantly’. And the water that came from the Rock, struck in disobedience, provided the very same function, physical and spiritual provision, as that which came from the Rock when He was struck in Exodus. Which would lead us to ask the questions, ‘How could disobedience result in abundant spiritual provision? And why did Moses strike the Rock twice in Numbers when he had only needed to strike it once in Exodus?’ d). Well, as we had seen last time, the answers to these questions are to be found in understanding what took place at the Lord’s first advent and His crucifixion. If this is understood then the double striking of the Rock recorded in Numbers Chapter 20 and Moses’ rejection with respect to entering the land because of it, will easily fall into place - Mt 27:11 Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.”……………. 37 And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. It is so important that we understand that Jesus came to the nation of Israel as their King, the promised Son of David, and all the signs He performed in their midst attested to that fact – Isa 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. However, following the nation’s rejection of Him and the Kingdom of the heavens He offered, His focus turned towards the cross – Mt 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. But the role of the suffering servant and the sacrificial Lamb, was not how He presented Himself to the nation. And nor was this the way the nation saw Him – Mt 21:9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Hosanna in the highest!” And inspired by their religious leaders, the nation called for the crucifixion of their King - Jn 19:14 Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” 15 But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!” The Jewish leaders, and by association the Jewish people, knowingly put to death their King, but at the same time, in doing so, they unknowingly, had killed their Passover Lamb. There could never be any condemnation for them for killing the Lamb of God, because this they had been given to do, but there certainly was condemnation for killing their King – Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; Acts 7:52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, And it is in the duality seen in the Lord’s crucifixion, the killing of their Passover Lamb in ignorance and the killing of their King knowingly, that we find the antitype of Moses striking the Rock twice in Numbers Chapter 20. Striking the Rock once would take us straight back to the striking of the Passover lambs in Egypt, an action that followed God’s commandment, foreshadowing the killing of the Lamb of God, also done in accordance with the same command, although done unknowingly. Then striking the Rock a second time, not seen in Exodus Chapter 17, foreshadowed the killing of their King, a deliberate and intentional act committed in unbelief. e). And because of the nation’s unbelief, resulting in the death of their King, that national generation and all subsequent generations, can never enter the Kingdom of the heavens that had been offered to them. And this is seen in the type of Moses, who pictures Israel, not being allowed to enter the land covenanted to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. f). And it is because of the killing of the nation’s Passover Lamb unknowingly, an act in accordance with God’s command to do so, that water came ‘abundantly’ from the twice struck Rock in Numbers Chapter 20. g). As we have seen, it is because Israel killed their Passover Lamb that we are now, following the Lord’s resurrection and ascension, able to ‘eat His flesh and drink His blood’, which is supplied to us abundantly as the Bread of Life is brought forth from above - Jn 16: Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. 1 Co 2: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. Ge 24:53 Then the servant brought out jewelry of silver, jewelry of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother. Israel’s King was killed and at the same moment the nation’s Passover Lamb was slain. But unlike the account in Exodus Chapter 12, the blood of the slain Lamb has not yet been appropriated by the Jewish people, nor could it be as they still have no understanding of what took place in Jerusalem that day. h). The appropriation of the blood must wait until that future day when the nation will look on Him whom they pierced. At last recognizing Jesus for who He is – Mt 16:16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Ge 45:3 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. 4 And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. We know what awaits the coming of this day for Israel. And, remarkably, the timeframe for this can be seen in Numbers Chapter 19, preceding the striking of the Rock twice in Chapter 20 - Nu 19:11 “He who touches the dead body of anyone shall be unclean seven days. 12 He shall purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third day and on the seventh day, he will not be clean. 13 Whoever touches the body of anyone who has died, and does not purify himself, defiles the tabernacle of the LORD. That person shall be cut off from Israel. He shall be unclean, because the water of purification was not sprinkled on him; his uncleanness is still on him. The type here of the Jew who is unclean because of contact with a dead body, points to national Israel, God’s adopted firstborn son, and their uncleanness through contact with the dead body of their King two thousand years ago. And as we see from the type cleansing is necessary on the third day and the seventh day, if the one who is unclean is not to be cut off. i). Within God’s timeframe we would count the three days to be the two days, the two thousand years of the dispensation given to the Jews, with the third day following. And the third day following the close of the dispensation for the Jews, which will be completed by Daniel’s seventieth week, the seven years of the Tribulation, is also the seventh day from Adam, the Millennial Kingdom. And therefore, cleansing will take place on the third day and the seventh day. j). It will be then, at the end of the tribulation, the full two days given to Israel being complete, that the nation will appropriate the blood of their Passover Lamb and will be cleansed from their contact with the death of their Messiah, the King whom they killed – Eze 36:24 For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. 28 Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. 29 I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses………. As we would expect, all fits perfectly into God’s seven-thousand-year timeframe established in Genesis Chapter 1. k). The Rock struck twice in Numbers gives us the nation’s disobedience in killing their King, but also the sacrifice of their Passover Lamb that has provided for their future deliverance and cleansing on the third day, which is also the seventh day. 3). The instructions regarding uncleanness through contact with a dead body, as we have seen, comes before the Rock is struck twice in Chapter 20. And these are two of a triad of types seen in Numbers. a). In Chapter 19 then, we see death and uncleanness in relation to a dead body. In Chapter 20 we see disobedience and rejection through striking the Rock twice. And then in Chapter 21 we see this – Nu 21:4 Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. 5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.” 6 So the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died. 7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD that He take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived. In these verses from Chapter 21 we again see disobedience, And the people spoke against God and against Moses. And that which they complained about will be very familiar, For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread. b). And it is because of Israel’s disobedience, that the Lord sent ‘fiery serpents’, poisonous snakes, among the people, and many of the people were bitten and subsequently died – Ro 6:23 For the wages of sin is death…………. Then following the nation’s recognition of their sin, God instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent and lift it up on a pole. Anyone who was then bitten by a fiery serpent could look at the bronze serpent on its pole, and that person would live and not die. c). And it is this incident from Numbers Chapter 21, that Jesus referred to in His conversation with Nicodemus in John Chapter 3, pointing to Himself being lifted-up on the cross - Jn 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. To understand why Jesus referred to this in His conversation with Nicodemus and to understand what was going on in the wilderness in Numbers Chapter 21 will have to wait until next time though, if we remain and the Lord is willing. And we have prayed.