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There is resemblance —

I. IN THE APPARENT UNLIKELIHOOD OF THE SOURCE. The very name of Horeb was "hill of dried-up ground." No wonder there was the incredulous cry, "must we fetch water out of the rock?" To the untaught eye it is thus with regard to Christ. A babe in a manger; a carpenter's son; a wearied traveller; a broken-hearted sufferer; a dying malefactor. Truly He may be called "a root out of a dry ground."

II. IN THE MEANS BY WHICH BLESSINGS WERE PROCURED. The rock was smitten. It is in the working of the same law by which the bark must be bruised if you would have the healing balsam, the grape pressed if you would have the invigorating wine. Christ smitten is the rock whence flowed of old, and flows to-day, all that consoles, inspires, reconciles, saves human life. As Leader, Model, Teacher, Friend, Saviour, our Lord was "made perfect through suffering."

III. IN THE VALUE OF THE BLESSINGS CONFERRED. In the river that broke forth from Horeb for the Jews, and in the influences that proceed from Christ for humanity, there is alike —

1. Exact adaptation to conscious need. Thirst cried for water, sin cries for Christ. Nothing but "the truth as it is in Jesus" can meet the inquiries, the heart-ache, the despair of men.

2. An all-sufficient supply.

(U. R. Thomas.)

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KJV: Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

WEB: Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;