I will stand before you on a rock at Horeb (Mount Sinai). Hit that rock with the walking stick and water will come out of it. Then the people can drink.”
They were hungry,\par so you gave them food from heaven.\par They were thirsty,\par so you gave them water from a rock.\par And you told them,\par ‘Come, take this land.’\par You used your power,\par and took the land for them!\par
You people were in trouble.\par You called for help\par and I set you free.\par I was hidden in the storm clouds,\par and I answered you.\par I tested you by the water at Meribah.” {\cf2\super [468]} \par \i (SELAH {\cf2\super [469]})\i0 \par
Aaron spoke to all the people of Israel. They were all gathered together in one place. While Aaron was talking, all the people turned and looked into the desert. And they saw the Glory of the Lord [104] appear in a cloud.
The Lord led his people through the desert,\par and they never became thirsty!\par Why? Because he made water\par flow from a rock for his people!\par He split the rock,\par and water flowed out!”\par
“Get the {special} walking stick. Take your brother Aaron and the crowd of people and go to that rock. Speak to the rock in front of the people. Then water will flow from the rock. And you can give that water to the people and to their animals.”
Jesus answered, “You don’t know about the thing God gives. And you don’t know who I am that asked you for a drink. If you knew these things, you would have asked me and I would have given you living water.”
But the person that drinks the water I give will never be thirsty again. That water I give will become like a spring of water flowing inside that person. That water will bring that person life forever.”
The Lord led you through that great and terrible desert. Poisonous snakes and scorpions [52] were in that desert! The ground was dry, and there was no water anywhere. But the Lord gave you water out of the rock.
The Spirit {\cf2\super [178]} and the bride say, “Come!” Every person that hears this should also say, “Come!” If a person is thirsty, let him come; that person can have the water of life as a free gift if he wants it.