"That Rock was Christ" - What we can learn about following Israel's example of following Christ

"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; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: AND THAT ROCK WAS CHRIST." - 1 Corinthians 10:1-4

We often think of Christ in terms of the Messiah, and rightfully so. However, just as Elder D. Todd Christofferson so eloquently stated, "Both as Jehovah and Messiah, He is the great I Am." When the resurrected Savior introduced himself to the Nephites, He said, "I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth." Jesus of Nazareth, the Anointed One, was also Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel. "That Rock" that lead Israel from Egypt "was Christ," Paul plainly taught. And there is so much we can learn about the Savior's role in our lives by looking at His role in leading the children of Israel out of Egyptian captivity.


Getting Us Out of Captivity

The Israel nation had been in captivity for four hundred years. Most of us are not subject to slavery right now, but yet we can easily be put in bondage. In fact, that is Satan's whole plan. He seeks our captivity and desires for us to be enslaved to addictions, self-doubts, frustrations, memories of past mistakes, bad habits, and all sorts of other destructive behaviors and thought processes.

Thankfully, we have "That Rock... Christ." In 2 Nephi 9, Jacob explains the power of the Atonement of the Lord, an atonement that he calls "an infinite Atonement" (2 Nephi 9:7) which proves "the goodness of our God" (2 Nephi 9:10). He describes the ultimate power of Christ, His ability to free us from the captivity of death, both physical and spiritual:

"And this death of which I have spoken, which is the spiritual death, shall deliver up its dead; which spiritual death is hell; wherefore, death and hell must deliver up their dead, and hell must deliver up its captive spirits, and the grave must deliver up its captive bodies, and the bodies and the spirits of men will be restored one to the other; and it is by the power of the resurrection of the Holy One of Israel" (2 Nephi 9:12).

Because of the incomprehensible love of Jesus, we can be freed of death. We can live forever. Even more, we can live a live of eternal bliss with our Father whose name is Eternal. Later, in verse 45, Jacob pleads, "O, my beloved brethren, turn away from your sins; shake off the chains of him that would bind you fast; come unto that God who is the rock of your salvation" (emphasis added). We have the ability to shake off the chains of bondage with which Satan seeks to hold us captive, if we will only come unto That Rock.

The Apostle M. Russell Ballard testified, "Set aside all pride and turn your life and your heart to Him. Ask to be filled with the power of Christ’s pure love. You may have to do this many times, but I testify to you that your body, mind, and spirit can be transformed, cleansed, and made whole, and you will be freed."

I echo his testimony. The Great Jehovah could lead millions of Israelites away from the grasp of Pharoah through such miraculous means as plagues of frogs and rivers of blood, surely the Great Messiah can lead you out of any captivity you face. Go to Him and trust in His Atonement. He can free you now. And, because of His resurrection which we memorialize and commemorate this Easter Sunday, He can free you for eternity.

Getting Us Through the Red Sea

When teaching Oliver Cowdery, the Lord said, "Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground" (Doctrine and Covenants 8:3).

Isn't it interesting that God uses the story of the Israelites going through the Red Sea as the prime Matthew 16:16-17)? Of so many grand stories of revelation, why this one?
example of revelation? Why would He choose this story over so many other examples, such as the First Vision which was so intimate to Joseph Smith and surely would be a powerful lesson to Oliver? Why not reference Peter having the fact that Jesus was "the Christ, the Son of the living God" be revealed to him by his Father in Heaven (

Jeffrey R. Holland answers this question:

"The Red Sea will open to the honest seeker of revelation. The adversary does have power to hedge up the way, to marshal Pharaoh’s forces and dog our escape right to the water’s edge, but he can’t produce the real thing. He cannot conquer if we will it otherwise. 'Exerting all [our] powers to call upon God,' the light will again come, the darkness will again retreat, the safety will again be sure. That is lesson number one about crossing the Red Sea, your Red Seas, by the spirit of revelation."

Elder Holland later points out that as the Egyptian armies get closer and closer to the children of Israel, they become afraid, somehow forgetting the miraculous happenings that got them out of slavery in the first place.

We all face our Red Seas. We feel like we are finally out of captivity. Finally out of our addictions. Finally out of our dreadfully painful grief. Finally out of our heartache or anger or loneliness. Yet all of the sudden, we run right into our Red Sea, a sea so wide that there is seemingly no way to circumnavigate it. Meanwhile, the forces which held us captive in such recent memory are moving steadily closer and closer, and we start to feel as though they are most certainly going to control us again.

And this is where revelation comes in. Even more, this is where "That Rock... Christ" comes in. Just as we feel completely surrounded by failure and trials, if we will but call upon God, He will tell us what to do. It might seem crazy. I'm sure Moses wasn't planning from the onset of their journey to simply raise his arms and part a mighty sea. But that is what God told him to do, so that is exactly what he did.

How does this pertain to Christ? Let's look at Hebrews 4:15-16:

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

That high priest that we have is Christ, the Great High Priest. Because "he hath borne our griefs, and Isaiah 5:4), He now "know[s] according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities" (Alma 7:12). Succor means "something that you do or give to help someone who is suffering or in a difficult situation." I can't think of anything I could receive that would help me more than advice from a High Priest who has been exactly where I am at. Because of this, I can boldly approach the throne of grace and find grace in my time of need, no matter how daunting of a Red Sea I might have in front of me and no matter how terrifying of an Egyptian army I have creeping up behind me.
carried our sorrows" (

  Finding Our Promised Land

Ultimately, it wouldn't matter if we got out of captivity or found ways to split Red Seas if there is nothing waiting us in the end. Israel sought Canaan, their promised land. We today are seeking our own Zion, which we learn refers to a people who are pure in heart (Doctrine and Covenants 97:21). Even more, we want to live in the eternal Zion, even the Kingdom of God.

Brad Wilcox said, "Latter-day Saints know not only what Jesus has saved us from but also what He has saved us for." Well what are we being saved for?

Paul taught the Romans, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together" (Romans 8:16-17). That is quite a bold statement, considering Hebrews 1:2 describes "his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things." The Lord continues His promise in Revelation 21:7: "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son."

We have a very promising future ahead of us. One with our Father, whose entire work and glory is to bring about this sort of life for each of us (Moses 1:39).

Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon were taught about the Kingdom of God, which would include "they who are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly place, the holiest of all" (Doctrine and Covenants 76:66). The city of the living God! The holiest of all! How wonderful does that sound? John learned in his revelation that this "city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof" (Revelation 21:23).

How might we live, as heirs of God, in this city which is kept alight by the Lamb? Paul taught, "And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:29).

We can be heirs to our own promised land, and, yet again, "That Rock... Christ" is the answer. He is always the answer.


Conclusion

Sheri Dew taught:

"Is it possible to be happy when life is hard? To feel peace amid uncertainty and hope in the midst of cynicism? Is it possible to change, to shake off old habits and become new again? Is it possible to live with integrity and purity in a world that no longer values the virtues that distinguish the followers of Christ?

"Yes. The answer is yes because of Jesus Christ, whose Atonement ensures that we need not bear the burdens of mortality alone."

I add my testimony to the many testimonies that I have referenced here. Christ is the Rock who can lead us out of anything. Christ is the Rock who can lead us through anything. Christ is the Rock who can lead us to a promised land beyond all our understanding. I testify, alongside Helaman, "that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation" (Helaman 5:12) if we ever hope to be lead as the Children of Israel. And I thank my Father in Heaven daily for the gift of His Son, so that I can feel His cleansing and enabling power.

This Easter season, let us strive to rely on "That Rock... Christ" a little more and be guided by the same divine Guide as Israel of old.