At this juncture we will digress briefly from our story, to speak of the operation of the Spirit of God.
Running water, be it a fountain, brook, river, spring, etc., is mostly used, in the Bible, as a type or figure of the Spirit of God. This is confirmed by the words of the Lord Jesus, in John 7:38-3938He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:38‑39), “He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”
(Contained water in a vessel, for example, the laver, Exodus 30:1818Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. (Exodus 30:18); or a pitcher, Mark 14:1313And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him. (Mark 14:13); is more often a type of the Word of God.)
The Lord told the Samaritan woman at Sychar’s well, “If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give Me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water” (John 4:1010Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. (John 4:10)). The gift referred to in this chapter is the gift of the Holy Spirit. He further told her, “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:1414But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14)). The blessing, refreshment, and enjoyment of eternal life is the result of the work of the Spirit of God (the springing well) being in us.
Another example of this is at Elim, at the beginning of the wilderness journey. “And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters” (Exodus 15:2727And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters. (Exodus 15:27)). The wells and the palm trees denote power and provision. There were seventy trees, because it says, “the days of our years are threescore years and ten” (Psalm 90:1010The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. (Psalm 90:10)). In other words, there is provision for the whole pathway. The wells, are a picture of the Spirit of God, and that is the power for our journey. Notice, there was a well for every tribe. “For God giveth not the Spirit by measure” (John 3:3434For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. (John 3:34)). Everyone who knows Christ as Saviour is indwelt by the Spirit of God, and has the same power for their Christian life as every other believer. Notice also, it is the wells first and then the palm trees. As believers we are indwelt by the Spirit, and this is the power that makes, and gives, provision for the Christian journey.
It is also through the action of the Spirit that we have refreshment for our souls and an appreciation of divine things. “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me” (John 15:2626But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: (John 15:26)). When Moses first smote the Rock in Exodus 17:66Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. (Exodus 17:6), we find that the water flowed out for the refreshment of the people. The Lord instructed him, “Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people my drink.” We know from 1 Corinthians 10:44And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:4), what, or who, the Rock was: “They drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” Since the Rock was Christ, the stream of water that flowed from it would speak of the refreshment resulting from the operation of the Spirit of God. Moses striking the Rock figures the Lord Jesus coming under the rod of God’s judgment for sin. We read of the Lord, “I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of His wrath” (Lamentations 3:11I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath. (Lamentations 3:1)). Mrs. Ann Ross Cousins expressed it so well in the following lines:
This had to be, before the Spirit could be given. We have already quoted from John 7:3939(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:39), which tells us, “the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.” The Lord had to bear the judgment on the cross, rise from the dead, and ascend back to heaven, before the Spirit could be send down. This decent, of course, happened on the Day of Pentecost.
Later on in Numbers 20:88Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. (Numbers 20:8), Moses was told to go and to speak to the Rock. “Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink” (Numbers 20:88Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. (Numbers 20:8)). Sin had come in amongst the people of God, and as a result the water had stopped flowing. Moses was to simply speak to the Rock so that the water would flow out again. Let’s quote the whole passage: “And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as He commanded him. And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also” (Numbers 20:7-117And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 8Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. 9And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as he commanded him. 10And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? 11And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. (Numbers 20:7‑11)).
Sin hinders the work of the Spirit of God in two distinct ways. By grieving or quenching.
• “Quench not the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:1919Quench not the Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 5:19)). This is hindering the work of God through us.
When this happens, we are to speak to the Rock, that is to the Lord Jesus. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:99If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)).
(Moses in disobedience smote the Rock and spoiled the beautiful type ... but that is another subject.)
Now let us be clear that we don’t have to ask for the Spirit. We have it! The Lord stated clearly, “The Spirit of Truth ... dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:1717Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:17)). Some of the contemporary Christian songs implore the Father or the Son to send us the Spirit, or even address the Spirit directly and invite Him to come and indwell us, or be in our midst. This is not an accurate or intelligent prayer for a believer in this dispensation. We further read, “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever” (John 14:1616And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (John 14:16)). The abiding presence of the Spirit, both in us and with us, is one of the things that makes the Christian dispensation unique from all dispensations past and future.
As a side note, and in regard to what has just been stated, we never have a precedent in Scripture that would teach us to pray or sing to the Holy Spirit. We pray and sing in and by the Spirit, addressing God the Father, or the Lord Jesus Christ.
So we learn that in asking for springs of water, Achsah acknowledges the need for power and refreshment, for the day-to-day life of herself and her family. While, as we have said, we do not ask for the Spirit or pray for power, yet we need to be exercised to avail ourselves of that which is available through His working, and not allow anything in our lives that would hinder His proper function.
By the Spirit’s mighty power,
We can walk the desert sand,
By the springs of sweet refreshment,
We enjoy the promised land.
All is ours, we taste the blessings,
Of our God through Jesus Christ,
What a source of overflowing,
Joy, and rest, and grace, unpriced.
Minister of precious portions,
Bringing Christ before the soul,
Giving vision to the weary,
Pointing to the prize and goal.
He is with us, He is in us,
Blessed Spirit of our God,
We have all the power that’s needed,
As to glory, on we tread.
He abides with us forever,
Until that momentous day,
When the Lord will come to call us,
Home to glory, safe away.
Thus the Spirit and the bride say,
“Come, Lord Jesus, even so;”
Raptured up together with Him,
Then Himself to fully know.