1 Corinthians 10:4 - Exposition

The same spiritual drink. The water from the smitten rock might ( Exodus 17:6 ; Numbers 20:11 ) be called a "spiritual" drink, both as being a miraculous gift (comp. Galatians 4:29 , where Isaac is said to be "born after the spirit" ) , and as being a type of that "living water" which "springs up into everlasting life" ( John 4:14 ; John 7:37 ), and of the blood of Christ in the Eucharist ( John 6:55 ). These "waters in the wilderness'' and "rivers in the desert" were a natural symbol of the grace of God ( Isaiah 43:23 ; Isaiah 55:1 ), especially as bestowed in the sacrament through material signs. They drank; literally, they were drinking, implying a continuous gift. Of that spiritual Rock that followed them; rather, literally, of a spiritual following Rock. This is explained