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Give account of the historical facts to which the apostle refers. It seems as if he had in mind also the Jewish tradition that the rock - i.e. a fragment broken off from the rock smitten by Moses - followed the Israelites through their journey. St. Paul sees, in that symbol of the Divine presence and providing, an aid towards our realizing the gracious abiding presence of the Lord Jesus Christ with his Church. His point here is that God's people, in the olden times and still, are divinely led and divinely fed; so no excuse for apostasy can be found in any "straitening in God."

I. DIVINELY LED. By God in the pillar cloud that loomed dark against the clear sky by day, but shone like fire at night, and moved or rested to direct the people's journeyings. By God's power through the Red Sea, whose waters were held back, making a great pathway over the dried sands. The fact of such leadings ought to have bound the people to Jehovah in everlasting bonds. Then show what is the answering Christian fact to this, and how, when we are brought to Christ, a new light shines upon the wondrous providences of our whole lives, and so we feel freshly bound to our Lord, and say -

"Jesus, still lead on,
Till our rest be won."

II. DIVINELY FED. By God in the provision of the manna day by day. By God in the smitten rock, that provided in a miraculous manner for them when natural supplies failed. Such daily signs of Divine presence and care ought to have held them fast to daily obedience and service. Then we may realize that

(1) the manna answers to Christ, the Bread of life for us; and

(2) the water answers to Christ, the Rock sorely smitten for us. And then we should feel how, in the daily provisions of Christ's grace in the supply of all our need, we are bound to his service, daily urged to "yield ourselves unto him, and our members instruments of righteousness unto his service." - R.T.

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Parallel Verses

KJV: And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

WEB: and all ate the same spiritual food;