The Rock in the wilderness, from which the Israelites got water, is a very significant miracle. As described from several Psalms, The LORD “brought streams out of the rock,” He “caused waters to run down like rivers” from it; “He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.” The LORD made a rock in the wilderness bring forth water “as out of the great depths,” turning it “into a fountain of waters” and “watersprings.”

This is a picture of Jesus Christ. Paul says “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” [1 Cor 10:4] From the real, historical experience of the Israelites, we learn that out of Jesus Christ we receive gushing waters, fountains, streams of living water: we receive what is necessary for life.

Jesus expands on this idea as well. He tells us,

"If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." [Jn 7:37-38] 

And in another place,

"Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." [Jn 4:14]

Jesus offers us water; refreshment for our souls. As David proclaims: “He refreshes my soul…” Jesus offers us His Holy Spirit, an unlimited supply of fresh, spiritual water to quench our thirst! Looking back at what Jesus cried in John 7, John comments,

"(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" [Jn 7:39]

What a wonderful promise this is. Now consider Psalms 114:7 where the Psalmist says to tremble at The LORD and notice the reasoning given. We read,

"Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of The Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob; which turned the rock into standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters." [Psa 114:7-8]

Those great displays of power: the sea, the Jordan, the mountains and hills being uprooted; though terrifying for certain, and great in display, the Psalmist chooses another to end the Psalm. He says to tremble at the presence of The LORD who turned the rock into a pool of water, into a fountain of waters.

The power of The LORD in filling men with His Holy Spirit is to be feared above that of mountains and hills being uprooted, above that of an entire sea being divided so an entire nation could walk straight through. The power of The Holy Spirit is immense. The Lord “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” [Eph 3:20] The Holy Spirit’s power, used by The Father, is far above anything we can fathom up.

What’s more than that, is the great price which needed to be paid in order for The Holy Spirit to indwell men eternally. That indeed makes the indwelling of The Holy Spirit a thing to be feared and taken very seriously.

Through the smiting of Jesus, pictured by Moses hitting the rock, The Holy Spirit gushes out into our lives. It is only through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and our faith in that, thus purifying us, which allows The Holy Spirit to fill us, which allows Him to fulfill that promise of Jesus, “the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

We ought to fear Jesus for this. Peter tells us,

"And if ye call on The Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot…" [1 Pe 1:17-19]

CONCLUSION

The price which Jesus paid for us to be filled with The Holy Spirit is no small thing. It is the most expensive gift ever given. And to this Paul gives evidence, for he says of Christ’s gift: “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” The awesome power of The Holy Spirit within us is like a gushing fountain. We, through Christ’s Spirit, have opportunity wherever we go to pour out this life, this water, onto those around us. Let us fear and not waste that opportunity, but as Peter states, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation,” and “pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.”