The ROCK

Moses stood upon the Rock at Mount Sinai, the Mount of God. He asked to see the Glory of God, so God told him to take refuge in the cleft of the Rock. As the Glory of God passed by, His Hand shielded Moses and Moses saw Him (Gen 33:21-22).

Through the study of Hebrew words used for ‘Rock’ in the TANAKH (Old Testament), one sees a close interrelationship between God’s Mount (Rock), the Rock to stand upon, and the Cleft of the Rock to take refuge within. These, while separate concepts in and of themselves, can not be separated from one another; they are One. 

For instance, King David wrote many things about the Rock, such as: “lead me to the Rock that is higher than I” ; “God set me upon the Rock”; “the Rock is our God”; and “There is no other rock but our Rock” (Ps. 61:2; 27:5; 18:31; 92:15).

David was a shepherd boy, anointed as the second King of Israel by Samuel. Samuel’s mother declared, “there is no Rock like our God” (1 Sam 2:2). David announced, “Who is a God like our God? Who but our God is a solid Rock. God is my fortress” (2 Sam 22:32-33). Again, the interrelationship of ONE.

The cleft of the “Rock” reflects a concept of a: refuge, a fortress, place of safety, the rescuer; holy and God himself. David and Moses gave us even more characteristics of the Rock. The Rock is: faithful, perfect; our Salvation; and (God) the one who fathered us (Deut 32:4,15, 18; Ps 22:47). Similarly, the prophet Isaiah declared by the Holy Spirit of God that we are “hewn out from this Rock, to whom we should look” (Isa. 51:1).

The Rock from whom we are hewn Created us, and this appears in a similar concept in Genesis 1:26 “Let Us make man in our image”. We are created, formed in His image, hewn out of; yet able to enter into and hide in/dwell in the Rock. Moses, Elijah and Saul/Paul dwelt within the cleft of the Rock (Ex33:21-22; 1Kings 19:9-11; Acts 9).

Moses, Elijah and Paul all stood on the Rock; Mount Sinai, which is also called Horeb (Isa 2:10; ). Isaiah specified that this mountain was “of Midian” and called “the Rock at Oreb” (Isa. 10:26). Moses and the Exodus group stayed at the Mount (Rock) of the Lord for nearly two years (Ex 40:17). Then they continued onward for another thirty-eight years.

In retelling their forty-year wilderness journey, King David wrote that a spring of water flowed from the rock and pooled for those exiles from out of Egypt (Ps. 114:8). Likewise, Nehemiah later reminded the exiles from out of Babylon about Moses & the Exodus people’s wilderness journey, “You (God) gave them bread from heaven and water from rock (#5553) when they were thirsty” (Neh 9:14-16). 

In the days of the Babylon exiles, lived the prophet Haggai, Ezra and Nehemiah. Some of them had seen the destruction of the Temple. And now returning, the people faced famine and thirst; they were parched “because My House lies in ruins while you are running about…” (Hag 1:11).

In the wilderness, the exiles from out of Egypt had not even conceived of a House of the LORD; yet they too were tormented by thirst. They complained to Moses. Moses did as instructed and struck the Rock; and water came from the Rock (Ex 17:3-6; Deut 8:15). 

Moses also heard complaints in the wilderness about their hunger; and The LORD fed the exiles with a miracle of manna that fell from heaven in their journey. The manna continued to supply their need throughout forty years in the wilderness. “It tasted like wafers made with honey” (Ex 16:31).  

Not only did the people’s hunger and thirst go fulfilled throughout their journeys, but they had added sweetness; both from the manna and “honey from the rock” (Ps 81:16). Life sustaining water and sweetness from a miraclulous Rock.

Some of the Hebrew words for ‘Rock’ used above, include Strongs’ Concordance #6697 and several related Hebrew words (#5553, 4486, 4686), with the latter meaning: fortress, stronghold, fort, castle, citadel, etc. The Rock from which the waters flowed relates very closely to the one upon which someone can stand—AND it relates to the cleft of the Rock in which to find refuge: a hiding place, a place of security. 

The Song of Solomon is a love story. But on a deeper level it is a parable that reflects God’s love for His intended and vice versa. In one verse, the bridegroom speaks of his intended: was she hiding in the outcrop of the cliff? (Songs 2:14).  “She” is a perfect image of the one pledged to God; safely hidden in the cleft of the Rock. 

In two psalms, King David uses the word Rock for two concepts stemming from One solitary Rock in whom he trusts: “my Rock (#5553), my fortress” (#6697). “God sets my feet upon the Rock (#5553)” (Ps 18:2; 31:3). The use of these words creates an image of a firm foundation for the other.

Upon this Rock is built a fortress (cleft of the Rock, hiding place)—a citadel; Temple. Again these are interconnected as One. Through other scriptures it becomes clear that the foundational “Rock” is the principle upon which all things are built concerning the world and the eternal paradise.

The people of God stand on the Rock; and dwell in a Fortress built upon it. If that fortress/Temple were built on anything less than solid Rock, it would ultimately fall. The Rock, the foundation for the Temple, was laid by God.

The foundation and the building began with a single Rock—inter connected, “The sovereign LORD says: ‘I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious corner stone’” (Isa 48:13; Zech 12:1; Job 36:6). The meaning of this combination  (#6438+ 68) for corner + stone means pinnacle, the chief stone.

The Prophet Isaiah wrote, “Make the LORD (foremost)”; revere Him. “He will keep you safe. But to Israel and Judah he will be a stone that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them fall. And for the people in Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare. Many will stumble and fall, never to rise again” (Isa 8:12-15).

Interesting. The LORD placed the foundation for the precious corner stone in Jerusalem, yet it was Israel and Judah who would stumble over “HIM”. King David says, “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the corner stone.” Further, he says to “Bless the One who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless you from the House of the Lord” (Psalm 118:22, 26).

The foundation Rock is firm, an immovable Rock; upon which is that chief corner stone (Rock) laid in Jerusalem, the corner stone of the Temple (House/Fortress) of the Lord, in which His people find refuge. Inseparable. Isaiah wrote, “Here is rest; to give rest to the weary, here is repose—but they would not listen” (Isa 28:12).

The Rock foundation is safe to build upon, so the cornerstone (Rock) was laid. “He is my Rock and my salvation; He is my fortress. He that believes will not be shaken” (Psalm 62:6). The House (Temple) of the LORD is a secure fortress. The fortress began with the perfect, chief, corner stone; set upon a firm foundation—yet, others rejected it, and they stumbled over it.

When relating the rebuilding the Temple, Zechariah mentions a plum line (Zech 4:6-10). The plumb line was used in the early days of construction. It measures the straightness of the foundation and walls for plumb-ness. This is done several times throughout the building process. If the building is plumb it proceeds; if it begins to lean the building is corrected.

Historically, the foundational principles of God, built on the firm foundation has been found leaning multiple times. The plum line appearing in this section of Zechariah’s prophecy seems geared towards the future. The House will be measured for plumb-ness; but one day the building halts with a capstone (Zech 4:8-10). 

Interestingly, Zechariah’s prophecy about the Temple of the Lord is sandwiched between two mentions of “the two anointed ones, standing by The Lord”. They appear in the Revelation of Yeshua (Jesus), given to John. The two anointed ones in Zachariah are the “two witnesses” of the End Days (Rev… chapter 11).

In Revelation, the two anointed ones are “sandwiched” between descriptions of the lesser tribulations (the birth-pains) that befall the world, and the more severe Bowls of God’s Wrath that are poured on the scoffing, unrepentant (Rev. chapters 6-10, 11-19). The world and the churches had grown very un-plumb (Rev. 2&3).

The Lord who placed the firm foundation stone in Jerusalem, the precious, corner stone that was rejected, is foreseen by Isaiah. The LORD stands with a measuring line and the plumb line, “(God) will test you with the measuring line of Justice and the plumb line of righteousness” (Isa 28:16-17). 

A measuring line (rod)—Justice—also appears in Revelation (21:15) when laying out the area, its walls and its gates for the New Jerusalem. Meanwhile, the plumb line—Righteousness—appears again in the writings of the prophet Amos who, when telling us of the End of Days, tells us the Lord stood with a plum line beside a wall to see if it was still straight (Amos 7:7-9).

Being plumb is crucial to building a sound structure. Through blatant sin the world now has come near to the days of Noah and that of Lot, who both saw righteous indignation bring destructions. Any observant person knows that our world today resembles those days, as described (Jude 1.7).

Blatant sin will eventually bring down just-judgments (Gen 18 & 19). When God used the plum line in the prophecy of Amos, He told him, “I will no longer ignore all their sins” (Amos 7:7-9). Indeed, this plumb line of righteousness signals the commencement of the End Time when people—especially those who claim grace but blatantly ignore God’s Word—will be corrected. 

The day will come when the One and Only Holy God judges the world for its wanton sin. From Scripture writings we learn that the world is blinded by the evil; even in the Days of the End Times, just as the days of Noah (Mat 24:37-39). And evil breaks God’s heart (Gen. 6:5-6). How many today remain true to pure-faith?

Yeshua (Jesus) said many interesting things of the End Times; and this stand out (for this writer) about the End Times. “Surely God will bring justice and quickly! To those who cry out to Him day and night. But when the Son of Man returns, will he find many with faith?” (Luke 18:8).

Yeshua used the term Rock (Greek word #4073, Strong’s “Petra”) after asking his disciple, “‘Who do you say I am?’ Simon Peter said, ‘You are Messiah, the Son of the living God’ (Matt 16:16-18a). Yeshua said, ‘You are (Petra), and upon this Rock (Petra) I will build my church’” (v.18b).

It is clear from the context the profession that Y’shua was Messiah is the “petra” (Rock), the foundation (Petra) for the church—not Peter, as many claim. Further evidence that no one but Yeshua is chief stone/corner stone, the head, comes from what he said to the disciples later, “‘Let no one call you Rabbi (Father/Pope, etc) for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers’” (Matt 23:8).

The foundation “Petra”, upon which rests an entire theology is: Messiah, the Son of God; Rock of salvation; the firm foundation. Messiah Yeshua and that confession is the subject of this interaction about the Rock (Petra). Yeshua told Simon Peter about his confession, “‘Flesh and blood did not reveal this to you …but the Father in Heaven’” (Matthew 16:15-20).

The prophet Zachariah declared of the building, “Who despises the day of small beginnings?” (Zech 4). Yeshua certainly had small beginnings, born in a stable in a so-called “insignificant place”. It appears in one Messianic prophecy, Yeshua’s birthplace, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah…” (Micah 5:2; Luke 1:5-2:20).

“Who despises the day of small beginnings?” (Zech 4). After Yeshua’s parents fled to Egypt (Matthew 2:2,13; Hos 11:1) they returned Nazareth (Matt 13:53) a very small village in the lower Galilees. A devout Levite was told ‘We have found the Messiah!’ The Levite exclaimed, ‘Nazareth! What good can come from Nazareth?’ He was told, ‘Come and see.’ (John:4:6; Luke 2:4).

That Levite came, saw and turned-disciple. He was there when Peter declared what was revealed by God, which is the Petra for building up the original theology. Indeed, that Greek word Petra (mass of rock) relates to another Greek word, which Strong’s labels #2602: “the founding of, the conception of, and/or the foundation of something.”

Yeshua said, “Upon this (foundation/mass of Rock/Petra), I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not conquer it’” (Mark 8:29, Matt 16:17-18). The foundation-of (Petra/Rock) also appears in Paul’s writing though the Holy Spirit, “But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone (#2602) with this inscription, ‘The Lord knows who are His’, and ‘All who belong to the LORD must turn away from evil’” (2Tim 2:19).

Many lay claim to faith and call him Lord; but are they following righteousness? Yeshua also said, “Not everyone who calls me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who do the Will of my Father in Heaven…Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds on solid rock (Matt 7:24).

The wise build on the foundation Rock—Petra #4073, which is similar to all those Hebrew word(s) used for the firm foundation of the House of the Lord. Recall that those Hebrew words related back to and include the many professions of the “Rock of Salvation”.

Salvation is Messiah, the Sacrifice provided by God, an understanding revealed by God—to the prophets, the apostles and even to Abraham (Acts 1-7; Gen 22:8-14). The Rock of Salvation is the Foundation stone, the Rock, the precious corner/chief stone that God laid in Jerusalem. This is the firm foundation: the confession of Messiah and what he came to do, he did—upon which rests our faith.

Together His House (Greek: Fortress) is built on the foundation of the apostles AND the prophets*. “And the corner stone is Messiah Jesus (Yeshua) himself. So now you gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with God’s Holy People” (Eph 2:19-21; Isaiah 49:6). This is the profession by the kedoshim: Holy people; the apostles and all of the witnesses, to whom God has revealed him.

God’s Holy People are wise and dwell in a fortress on that Rock. The entire body within The Fortress, as understood by the prophets, includes also the apostles and Gentiles. They “sheltered in the cleft of the Rock”; and trusted in the chief, precious corner stone of this House—and they dwelt together. In the End they will be citizens together in the New Jerusalem.

In Revelation the apostle John saw a newly created heaven and earth, and the city: “the New Jerusalem which came down from heaven like a bride, beautifully dressed for her husband…the bride, the wife of the Lamb” (Rev 21 & 22).

Courtship, engagement, weddings and sometimes divorce analogies can be found throughout the Old Testament. For instance, people who have abandoned God and His Word have divorced Him—but those who hold onto faith enter into the promised eternal land. Using that same analogy, those who break covenant with Him will not enter in, “‘For I hate divorce’, says the LORD” (Mal 2:16).

God wants people to remain faithful to Him—to grow in righteousness and understanding enough to trust Him. Late in their wilderness journey when the people thirsted, Moses struck a Rock for water. God told him to only SPEAK to the Rock (#5553) to bring forth living waters. Rather, Moses struck the rock and nothing happened, so he struck it again!

God told him, “…you did not trust Me enough to demonstrate My holiness to the people…” (Num 20:8-12). By now, on this late occasion—decades after the people had begun their out of Egypt, Moses should have simply trusted God’s Word. As our wilderness wanderings edge closer to the Promised Land, it is crucial that we trust; and maintain integrity. We are God’s bride, the wife; and need to continually grow in trusting Him for all things—and encourage others to do the same.

We need to dress (act) properly; and want everyone dressed in proper wedding clothes for His Wedding Feast (Matt 22:11-14). As mentioned earlier, the Song of Songs is parable of God’s love towards His people, within a love story of the king and his intended. It includes his wedding day. So, too does the book of the End Days, Revelation, include the wedding of God’s slain Lamb (3:6-11; Rev 19:6-10).

The book of Revelation begins with stern warnings of what occurs in the End Day churches. Only those who remain faithful—and not those just claiming the name but following Messiah will cross-over. Many today claim we are nearing the End of Days.

Perhaps we should gauge the nearness by how God’s measuring stick of justice might find our world today. If measured by God’s plumb line, which measures “righteousness”, ask yourself how plumb is the House? (If you read my prior post you would have noted how far the denominations of churches have strayed.)

Moses was forewarned that when (some of) God’s people “grew heavy, plump and stuffed”, they would abandon (divorce) “God who had made them” and (they) “make light of the Rock of their Salvation” (Deut 32:13, 15). So, too, have many people in today’s world made light of the Rock of Salvation, even though it is God who loves them enough to provide living waters and manna.

Four days before Passover, with their wilderness wanderings behind them, the Exodus people crossed over the Jordan. They likely drank from the fresh waters of the Jordan River; and they ate unleavened bread (manna). They partook of the fruit of the land (Joshua 4:19; 5:10-11). They were on the plains of the promised land—a land flowing with milk and honey; and “No manna appeared on the day they ate from the crops of the land, and it was never seen again” (Joshua 5:12). 

Once a person builds their faith upon the Rock and follows Him, they cross over from death into (eternal) life, to shelter in THE Rock of Salvation. The Fortress/House was begun with a precious, perfect corner stone, laid in Jerusalem on the only firm foundation existing. There is no more need for manna, for they have the Bread of Life.

It is completed, “finished” (John 19:30). “The hands of Zerubabbel have laid the foundation of the House, his hands will also finish it. Then you will know that Adonai Tzva’ot has sent me to you” (Zech 4:9).

Abraham believed and he was called the friend of God. Along with Abraham’s name is the first scriptural use of the term “Hebrew”. Interestingly, Hebrew has for its root, a word meaning “crossed over”. Those who cross over into the eternal land have heeded the Word of God—they are Hebrews.

Abraham was blessed by God for leaving his father’s family to trust Him enough to go to the land He would show him (Gen 12:2;14:13). Jewish tradition (via the dead sea scrolls and others) has it that his father’s family began to worship idols. But when Truth was revealed to Abraham, he crossed over into the promised gift of eternal life.

They have “crossed over” (into eternal life) and enter into the promised land: into the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven (Rev. chapters: 19,14,15). The Bride of Messiah joins many others in that New City from the Old Testament. Those who have “crossed over” are “Hebrew” and fall under the same covenant assurances and obligations as Abraham. They are over-comers, victors with those called before as the Bride for the Bridegroom.

Many times throughout the book of Revelation, the term “overcomer” is used for those who receive eternal life. In life, however, we’ve hungered and thirsted, but the Rock provides even here. However, we must not grow slack, just waiting for that day. The prophet Amos tells us of a coming famine and thirst of the End Days. There is a world need.

Amos explains: “‘Behold the days are coming—declares the LORD—when I will send a famine on the land. Not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the Words of the Lord. So people wander from sea to sea and roam from north to east, searching for the word of God but they will not find it’” (Amos 8:11-14). 

Remember Moses’ Midian wife who circumcised their son with the sharp ROCK on the way to join the soon-to-be Exodus group; saying, “Now you are a bridegroom of blood to me” (Ex 4:25). God’s Holy Spirit will teach and explain—better than “line upon line, precept upon precept”—the corner stone, the stone the builders rejected (Isa 28); the ROCK solid confession regarding Messiah.

She’ll be there in the very End to hear, “I am the Alpha and the Omega. To all who are thirsty I will give from the springs of the water of life…a river with the water of life flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb. On each side of the river, a tree grew, bearing twelve crops of fruits” (Rev chapters 21&22). 

Today, many people thirst and hunger for the Truth; and they try to find it in religions of the East, or the north; they roam over many lands from seas to sea. Some seek the Rock of Salvation; a firm foundation, Messiah Yeshua, whom God reveals. We, who are Petra (the Rock), must declare Him.

“How then shall they call on Him, in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach except they be sent?” (Romans 10:14-15).

“Who has believed our message and whom has the Arm of the Lord been revealed” (Isa 53:1)?

The foundation Rock is the only Rock upon which to stand and shelter in the cleft of the Rock (fortress). The Rock is the firm foundation of the prophets and the apostles; and the building that began with one precious corner stone. It is measured to see if it is plumb and upright enough to finish.

As for many, “I am certain that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion” (Phil 1:6).

During the building process, the LORD has used the plumb line to measure righteousness. But part of this Fortress now display unrighteousness; and is leaning? Could this be the “wing*” of the Temple, where stands the “object that causes desolation” (Dan 9:27)?

If so, that wing identifies with those of us within the Fortress; but they are not part of us. Due to their unrighteousness, the Fortress has been desecrated. *Hebrew meaning uncertain. (My prior post shows the degree—using the plumb line of the LORD from His unchangeable Word—that the “wing” leans.)

Time is short. We who stand upon the Rock, and dwell within the Fortress Rock will be saved; but we must not grow slack in our service to Him. Nothing is too big to tackle, and inviting just one, even one into the Rock—be having leaned within the “wing”, or still out in the temple courts. The giant that terrorizes falls hard. But, David brought down a giant with only a STONE in sling (1Sam 17:49). 

“God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith”; which He gives! (Phil 3:9). Having been hewn from the Rock, over-comers stand on the Rock, and are shielded within the Rock. Throughout their wilderness wanderings, the ROCK provides living waters, and honey coming from the Rock. Over-comers have eaten the manna that came down from Heaven. @achadpeace  peace, שלום ,سلام