Lead Me to the Rock
Did you ever have a rock collection when you were a child? Like most collections I didn’t stick with it, but for a while, I’d gather interesting rocks, usually from my back yard, and store them in a box. There was always one that stood out from the rest, and it became my favorite. It was a “pet rock” before the concept was popular!
Rocks can be beautiful, they take countless years to form, and they are solid. When you stand on a large rock, it can generally support your weight without crumbling.
That’s why God and Jesus are often referred to as rocks. They stand out in a collection of rocks. They are the most beautiful rocks, the strongest rocks. In 1 Samuel 2:4, Hannah prayed, “There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one beside you; there is no Rock like our God.”
Who else is in our rock collection? Our family, our friends, our acquaintances and co-workers. I’ve found that as beautiful as these rocks can be, we cannot ever make them our favorite rocks, because they are human, and will inevitably disappoint. It is during those times of disappointment that I cry out for my favorite rock, and ask God to help me live above the situation.
During times of trial, King David knew what it was like to put trust in shifting rocks. He said, “From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (Psalm 61:2).
When times get rough, we should all ask to be led to the higher rock, Jesus. Sometimes we are so blinded by our situation, we could not find that higher place, if we weren’t taken by the hand, and led.
When we stand on the higher rock, we can look at our problems the way God sees them. We have a better handle on the “bigger picture,” and it’s easier to love the other rocks in our lives, unconditionally.
It’s also important to drink from the spiritual rock, that Christ represents, in order to survive.
Did you know that when the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, Christ was with them? You say, “How can that be? Jesus wasn’t born yet.” However, scripture says this about the Israelites: “They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:3-4).
The problem was Christ was not always the Israelites’ favorite rock. He was not always the higher rock above all the rest. They fell into idolatry and discontent, so God let them wander for forty years, and many died off because they missed the spiritual nourishment of the rock, that stood tallest above others.
Has someone let you down? Are you hurt or disappointed? Are the rocks crumbling beneath your feet?
Then ask God to lead you to the solid rock that is higher than your situation. He will guide you to that place, and you will find security there.
“For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock” (Psalm 27:5). (LBW)