Editorial July 20, 1918 Issue

The True Rock

William D. McCrackan

The true rock is the Christ, Truth. Upon it God has built the structure which outlasts human religion. Scientifically understood this rock will provide health and wealth, oil and wine, milk and honey, because the Christ, Truth, is the Word, "and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." As Israel goes forward from Egypt into the promised land the Word of God feeds, clothes, and protects its loyal ranks. On page 153 of "Miscellaneous Writings" Mrs. Eddy says: "When God went forth before His people, they were fed with manna: they marched through the wilderness: they passed through the Red Sea, untouched by the billows. At His command, the rock became a fountain; and the land of promise, green isles of refreshment. In the words of the Psalmist, when 'the Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.'"

We read in the book of Numbers that Moses smote the rock in the wilderness "and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also;" but he received a reproof from his own highest sense of good for the manner of his smiting, and as a consequence neither he nor Aaron brought the congregation of Israel into the promised land. The command to Moses and Aaron was, "Speak ye unto the rock," but the record states that Moses spoke to the people instead, and "said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels." Was this mistake in addressing himself to person rather than to Principle the reason for his not crossing the Jordan? If so, then the incident may act as a warning. In the Glossary of Science and Health (p. 593) Rock is defined as "spiritual foundation; Truth. Coldness and stubbornness."

The real rock must always be recognized as superhuman and divine. The business man who tries to smite the rock of success, relying upon mere human ingenuity, who addresses himself to personal influence, to the push and pull of commercialism, does not enter the promised land by this means. The child at school trying to force good marks, the housewife goaded by fear of want, the gambler, the one who worships a false sense of money, the ruler driven by lust of conquest, the ecclesiastic insisting on temporal power, the hypnotist relying on human will power, are all keeping themselves out of the promised land by addressing themselves to mortal mind instead of to divine Principle, God.

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