HONEY FROM THE ROCK (1)

1. Introduction

a) Have you heard of “Honey from the Rock”? Literally sense, the rock that can produce honey for you. The question is can the rock produce honey? It seems impossible, isn’t?

b) Here, “Honey from the Rock” portrays that with God all things are possible i.e. giving you “honey”, an inherent sweetness that you desire so much.

c) Let’s take a look at:

i) Characteristics and benefits of honey.

• Honey is the only food that does not spoil.

• Honey is the only natural food made without destroying any form of life.

• Pure ripe honey does not have to be digested before it is absorbed into the bloodstream.

• Daily use of honey has been proven to ward off fatigue.

• Honey is a safe and gentle laxative.

• Honey is good for sore throats and chafed skin.

• Honey induces the flow of saliva which promotes digestion.

• Honey as a hair restorer was famous during the middle ages.

• US News and world report stated that honey had been proven to heal wounds that are difficult to heal especially for diabetic sores.

• Honey has been used to prevent osteoporosis.

• Honey promotes longevity of life.

• Honey has been used as a hair conditioner, facial cleanser, and an aid to digestion.

• The natural healing properties of honey are undisputed.

2. Let’s examine the following elements.

a) Spiritual honey.

i) God metaphorically (a word or phrase ordinarily and primarily used of one thing is applied to another) uses natural items to convey spiritual truths.

ii) 13He made him ride on the heights of the land and fed him with the fruit of the fields. He nourished him with honey from the rock, and with oil from the flinty (extremely hard and firm, inflexible) crag. (Deuteronomy 32:13 NIV)

iii) This verse is referring to Israel and is speaking in future tense about Canaan (the land flowing with milk and honey).

b) Drawing honey from the Rock.

i) 4He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. (Deuteronomy 32:4 NIV)

ii) 4and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:4 NIV)

iii) Not only water coming out of the rock (Christ) but also honey (sweetness).

c) When Moses asked to see God’s glory he was placed in the cleft (middle) of the rock when God passed before Him.

i) 21Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.” (Exodus 33:21-23 NIV)

d) When Jesus was on the cross and speared in the side water and blood came out.

i) As a result we have a flow of living water. Titus 3: 5 refers to the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.

ii) Because of His blood we are justified.

iii) Jesus Christ made the perfect sacrifice for sin.

iv) In scripture we see both water and honey (sweetness) flowing from the Rock.

e) Samson took honey out of the carcass of a lion.

i) 8Some time later, when he went back to marry her, he turned aside to look at the lion’s carcass, and in it he saw a swarm of bees and some honey. 9He scooped out the honey with his hands and ate as he went along. When he rejoined his parents, he gave them some, and they too ate it. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the lion’s carcass. (Judges 14:8, 9 NIV)

f) This illustrates two important points:

i) Firstly, Jesus is referred to as the Lion from the tribe of Judah

ii) Secondly, Satan is referred to as a roaring lion seeking whom He may devour. Satan offers sweetness but the end result is bitterness. A counterfeit to what God offers.

3. Let’s define what the honey represents.

a) 103How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (Psalm 119:103 NIV)

i) The Hebrews word for words here means utterance, speech.

ii) There is an inherent flow of sweetness flowing to us as a result of the work of Jesus Christ.

iii) 8Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. (Psalm 34:8 NIV)

iv) 3They all ate the same spiritual food 4and 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 NIV)

v) There is meat in the word but as a healing sweetness.

vi) 63The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. (John 6:63 NIV)

vii) John the Baptist was a forerunner to Jesus Christ. John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. (Matthew 3:4 NIV)

viii) Again metaphorically referring to the meat of the word but also indicating sweetness in it. Not only feeding the mind but healing to the emotions.

b) Jesus appears to His disciples after His resurrection.

i) 41And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? 42And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. 43And he took it, and did eat before them. (Luke 24:41-43 KJV)

ii) Is this just a coincidence in the word of God or is He trying to illustrate something. Why would it say that He ate fish or meat and honey?

iii) 44He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 45Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. (Luke 24:44, 45 NIV)

iv) The meat and the sweetness is not limited to Logos (written Word) but also includes Rhema (revealed) words spoken into the heart of the believer.

v) There is an inherent sweetness flowing from His redemptive work.

vi) Through His words and influence on our hearts.

c) Why do we have need of this?

i) 4I said, “Have mercy on me, Lord; heal me, for I have sinned against you.” (Psalm 41:4 NIV)

ii) Not only does the word of life provide what we need but there is a sweetness refreshing quality to His work in us.

iii) Not only does God speak His Rhema into our heart but He also pours in honey as sweetness that is healing to our souls.

iv) Many times God uses His body, His representatives to pour honey or sweetness into other peoples’ lives.

v) A spiritual flow of honey, coming from the only source of sweetness which is God Himself.

vi) Natural honey cannot be manufactured by man and neither can spiritual honey be manufactured by us.

vii) Remember that death and life are in the power of the tongue. How can we speak life? By speaking His words because they are spirit life.

viii) We can unknowing cooperate with the demonic realm and speak death promoting words.

ix) When you speak words of life into someone not only is it meat but there is an inherent sweetness that is healing to the soul.

x) Just as water came from the rock---honey also flows from the rock of Jesus Christ.