Glossa God As a Rock—Provision, Protection, and Presence
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God as a Rock—Provision, Protection, and Presence his article explores the biblical revelation concerning deposited in basins where, under the pressure of the weight Tthe divine epithet Rock ascribed to God. Most desig- of sediment over time, they are compressed to form sedi- nations of God have characteristics shared with human mentary rock. beings, such as Father, Son, Lord, Husband, King, Shep - herd, Judge, Lawmaker, Witness, Savior, Deliverer, and As rocks undergo a combination of pressure and heat Helper. Rock numbers among the few inanimate predica- (especially at plate boundaries), they are further changed, tions of God, such as shield, fortress, high tower, consuming or transformed, into metamorphic rocks. Rocks can change fire, sun, and light. God and rock have a number of shared char- in texture, and the minerals of rocks are frequently recrys- acteristics, including fluidity (in its molten state), solidity, tallized. It is during these kinds of processes that gemstone and durability. In the Bible both God and rock are spoken formation occurs. of in reference to not only a source of provision (e.g., water, food, and materials) and protection (shelter and Rocks have the characteristics of being fluid in origin dependability) but also to His presence, His person. (able to flow into areas where they did not previously Perhaps Rock is the only inanimate designation of God exist), solid in the sense of being dependable (e.g., able used as a vocative title that is capitalized in Bible versions1 to bear weight), and durable (resistant to change and (e.g., Hab. 1:12; Deut. 32:15, 18, 30-31). Rock is also the long lasting). However, they may also develop cracks and subject or agent of a number of actions usually associated fissures, which can allow liquids such as water or mineral- with animate subjects, such as begetting, saving, helping, rich solutions to flow in (to form gemstones) and flow out. following, speaking, and living.2 According to the divine Rocks can also break down into smaller blocks, which can revelation in the Bible, Rock (along with its derivative, be cut, shaped, and fashioned into smaller segments of stones) is a crucial symbol not only of God in His eternal material, i.e., stones for building and adornment. Yet, at purpose as the source and material of His building but also the same time, they retain the characteristics of the larger of His union with the believers through which they enjoy mass (e.g., durability, color, etc.). His provision, protection, and presence for their transfor- mation and His building. he Triune God personifies some of these characteris- Ttics of rocks. As the Father, He is the deep, hidden Characteristics of Rocks and Stones source of life, who through incarnation “flowed” with the Son into humanity in the person of Jesus Christ, who There are three kinds of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and “solidified” the Father as “rock,” making Him tangible and metamorphic. Rocks originate from molten, hot material accessible. The incarnated Christ is a God-man, the min- in the mantle layer lying about forty to one hundred gling of God and man. As the Son of Man, He constitutes twenty-five miles beneath the surface of the earth’s crust. “the essence of the building of God” (Lee, John 56). This mantle layer is in motion, driven by convection cur- Christ was also willing to be broken, pierced, on the cross rents that occur due to differences in temperature.3 This to release the flowing God as the Spirit into others and to causes an upwelling of hot, molten material called magma make Himself enterable to the believers. Now in resur- (from the Greek verb massein, meaning “to knead,” “to rection the life-giving Spirit imparted into us transforms mold”), which cools as it penetrates the crust or flows us through the process of mingling Himself with us, there- onto the earth’s surface and solidifies or crystallizes as by making us precious stones for God’s building. As we igneous (fire-formed) rock. allow the cross to work on us to break our soul, the facul- ties of our soul are transformed (Rom. 12:1-2), enabling us When igneous rock is exposed to the earth’s atmosphere to flow rivers of living water out of our innermost being and the processes occurring on the earth, the mineral mat- into others for their transformation (John 7:38-39). ter dissolves, decomposes, or disintegrates into sediment and soil, which is essential for the growth of organic mat- Words Used for Rocks and Stones ter on the earth. These sediments, along with decaying organic material, can be carried by water and wind and Although sometimes used synonymously, rocks and stones 56 Affirmation & Critique usually refer to different aspects of the same substance— The main Greek word for rock is petra. This word is used the hard, solid mineral material of the earth. As singular in the translation of both sela‘ and tsur in the Septuagint mass nouns, rock and stone emphasize substance. As count and refers to rock, a cliff, and a large stone. The noun pet- nouns, they indicate parts of the mass. Rocks usually refers ros occurs more rarely and is also used to refer to stone or to masses of hard, solid mineral substance exposed on or rock, but its most well-known use is in the new personal projecting above the earth’s surface (such as cliffs or crags) name of Peter, one of the leading apostles (Matt. 16:18). or larger distinct portions of such mass (such as boulders) The main Greek word for stone is lithos. This word is used and indicates permanence, protection, or stability. Stones mostly for the translation of ’eben in the Septuagint. It is usually refers to smaller portions of rock and may be used used to indicate small stones, large stones, precious stones, for building materials (such as foundation stones, corner- and building stones. stones, or topstones) or for adorning (such as precious stones, jewels, or gemstones). The Split Rock as a Source of Supply— a Type of the Crucified Christ he two main Hebrew words used for rock are tsur and Tsela‘. Tsur may be related to the verb root tsarar, Ts u r is first mentioned in the Bible in Exodus 17:6. The meaning “to press, or constrict,” indicating the origin of imagery that this word evokes is striking. When the chil- rock as being from under heat and pressure. This Hebrew dren of Israel came to Rephidim—also called Mas- word refers to rock as a sym- sah (“testing”) and Meribah bol of firmness and enduring (“contention”)—on their way material, as a rocky wall or to Mount Sinai, they com- cliff as a place of security and Jehovah’s standing upon the rock plained concerning three defense, or as a boulder or connected His presence with the things: provision—they had no large rock. It occurs seventy- rock, and the water that came forth water to drink (v. 2); protec- three times in the Bible, and tion—Moses brought them twenty-five times it is used as out of the rock was the provision out of Egypt to be abandoned an epithet of God. Ts u r is that the Israelites were seeking. in the wilderness to die of compounded in the theophoric thirst (v. 3); and God’s pres- names Tsuriel or Zuriel, “my ence—they questioned by rock is El (God)” (Num. 3:35); asking, “Is Jehovah among us Ts u r ishaddai or Zurishaddai, “my rock is Shaddai (the or not?” (v. 7).5 Jehovah’s response took care of all three Almighty, the All-sufficient One)” (1:6); and probably complaints. Jehovah stood upon the rock in Horeb and Pedahzur, “the Rock has ransomed or redeemed” (v. 10).4 charged Moses to strike the rock with his staff so that Sela‘ also is used for rock, especially for an elevated rocky water could come out of it for the people to drink (v. 6). crag or cliff, perhaps sharing the same biconsonantal root Rock elsewhere signifies protection (Psa. 31:2; Exo. sl as the verbs salal (“lift up”) or salaq (“go up, ascend”) 33:22). Jehovah’s standing upon the rock connected His (Psa. 139:8). Sela‘ is also a figure of security and often presence with the rock, and the water that came forth out refers to rock that is cleft or fissured—which enables it to of the rock was the provision that the Israelites were seek- be inhabited (Num. 24:21). Sela was the name of a city of ing. This picture has striking typological significance: Edom, an elevated dwelling place, traditionally identified with the Nabatean city Petra, a city similarly situated in The striking of the rock is a clear, complete, and full pic- rock (2 Kings 14:7; Jer. 49:16-17; Obad. 3). Sela‘ occurs ture of Christ’s crucifixion…The striking of the rock by sixty-two times in the Bible and at least five times is used Moses’ staff signifies that Christ was put to death on the to refer to God as “my rock” (Psa. 42:9; 71:3) or “my cross by the authority of God’s law (cf. Gal. 2:19-20a; crag” (2 Sam. 22:2; Psa. 18:2; 31:3). Five times another 3:13). Hebrew word, halamish (“flint”), is used (Deut. 8:15; 32:13; Psa. 114:8). Flint is a fine, calcified rock that has The water flowing out of the smitten rock typifies the undergone some transformation below ground before it is Spirit (John 7:37-39).