Page 76 - Through New Eyes

S I X

ROCKS, GOLD,

AND GEMS

I have seldom lived in large cities, and thus have not often
been privileged to visit museums. I recall my frustration on one
occasion, however, when I visited an exhibit of precious gem-
stones. I did not get to see very much of it, because the room was
so crowded with people peering through the glass at these pieces
of rock. In another room there was an exhibit of rocks that glowed
with peculiar colors under ultraviolet light. One had to stand in
front of a window to see these, and again it was difficult to work
one’s way through the crowd.
I don’t suppose my experience is particularly unique or worth
recounting, except that it is a telling example of the fact that peo-
ple, for some reason, like to look at certain pieces of rock.
The Bible has a lot to say about stones and rocks, and more
than we might think about gold, gems, and precious stones.
These are given us as emblems of God and His glory; and since
men are made in God’s image, they also speak of men.

The Rock of Ages
The best way to begin a study of this it to look at God, the
Rock of our salvation. The key passage to begin with is Deuter-
onomy 32, which might be called the Song of the Rock, though
it is usually called the Song of Moses because Moses wrote it.
You remember that when Israel came out of Egypt, the Israelites
were thirsty, and God told Moses to strike the rock to give them
water. God’s cloud sat upon the rock; and when Moses brought
the rod of judgment down on the rock, it passed through the
cloud. In this way, God told the people that He would take upon
Himself the judgment that they deserved, and that when He did
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