SCRIPTURE: EXODUS 17
IMPORTANT VERSE:
“I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” (Exodus 17:6)
“When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sate on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up – so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.” (Exodus 17:12-13)
WATER FROM THE ROCK (vs. 1-7)
The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.”
Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?” But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”
Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.” The Lord answered Moses, “Walk on ahead of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” so Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
THE AMALEKITES DEFEATED (vs. 8-16)
The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. tomorrow i will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.””
So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and pu8t it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up – one on one side, one on the other 0 so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”
Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. He said, “for hands were lifted up to the throne of the Lord. The Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”
THOUGHTS: (From Life Application Study Bible)
The Israelites complained about their problems instead of praying. When we have problems, we should pray instead of complaining because complaining only raises our level of stress. Prayer quiets our thoughts and emotions and prepares us to listen.
The Amalekites were descendants of Esau. They were a fierce nomadic tribe that lived in the desert region of the Dead Sea. They made part of their livelihood by conducting frequent raids on other settlements and carrying off booty. When the Israelites entered the region, the Amalekites saw this as a perfect opportunity for both pleasure and profit. But the hostile tribe was moving in on the wrong group – a people led by God. For the Israelite slaves to defeat such a warlike nation was more than enough proof that God was with them as he had promised to be.
Joshua was the general of the Israelite army. Moses told Joshua to go out and fight the Amalekites while Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses’ hands were held up, the Israelites were winning. When Moses was tired, Aaron and Hur held his hands up so that his hands remained steady till sunset. Joshua defeated the Amalekite army. We also need to hold up the hands of our spiritual leaders. Shouldering some responsibility, lending a word of encouragement or offering a prayer are ways of refreshing spiritual leaders in their work.
THOUGHTS (By Warren Wiersbe)
ANOTHER TEST (vs. 1-7)
The Israelites grumbled because they did not have water to drink. Instead of trusting God to supply them water, their unbelief led them back to the old life. In life, every difficulty you meet is an opportunity for testing yourself and trusting your Lord to go forward instead of going backward.. The rock pictures Jesus the living water of the Holy Spirit within.
ANOTHER ENEMY (vs. 8-13)
The Egyptian army was drowned, but the Amalekites were coming to fight the Israelites. It takes intercession on the mountain as well as intervention in the valley for God’s people to win the victory. After defeating Egypt, now, they have to enter into the battle with the Amalekites and trust God for victory. Our High Priest intercedes in heaven for us.
ANOTHER ASSURANCE (vs. 14-16)
Each test can tell you something new about yourself and about the Lord. When you face the battles of life, remember that He is your banner and can give you victory.
,