He is called the angel of the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, His Anointed, the Son, the great I AM, the Sun of Righteousness, Immanuel, the LORD and the Rock. There are many other descriptors and titles for Him. Each speaks of a particular aspect of His Person and His Work. Of particular interest is that of the Rock. Its first mention occurs during the exodus from Egypt as Moses was leading the people into Canaan. On the journey, the supply of water was exhausted and complaining marked the reaction of the people. Had the LORD who parted the Red Sea now abandoned His people in the wilderness? Of course He had not.
“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.”(EX 17: 6 KJV)
After seeing the LORD’s provision, the people should have gained confidence in the faithfulness of their God. Yet it was not long thereafter that they made an idol and worshipped the golden calf at the very time that Moses was on the mountain, receiving the tablets on which he inscribed the Ten Commandments. God would have to discipline the idolaters, but Moses would have the privilege of seeing the glory of God.
“Then the LORD said, "Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”(Ex 33:21- 23 NASB)
So that there would be no doubt as to the Person of the Rock, Moses, writing in the last few months of his life, declares that the Rock is the very God that the Israelites worshipped.
“For I proclaim the name of the LORD; ascribe greatness to our God! The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; a God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He.”(Deut 32:3- 4 NASB)
David often referred to the Rock in his Psalms as he expressed confidence in the One who was his Savior, his strength and his shield.
“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”(Ps 18:2 NASB)
“He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken.”
(Ps 62:6 NASB)
The Apostle Paul in writing to the Corinthian believers reminds them that the God of the Exodus generation was the very God that he preached unto them.
“For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.”(1 Cor 10:1- 4 NASB)
What comfort, what stability the Rock provides in every generation to all who place their trust in Him as their Savior. Faith alone, in Christ alone, remains the only means of relationship with the Rock of Ages.
“So trust in the Lord commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].”(Isa 26:4 AMP Version)