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Charles Spurgeon · Citado em PreceptAustin
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Spurgeon reminds us that "Behold is a word of wonder; it is intended to excite admiration. Wherever you see it hung out in Scripture, it is like an ancient sign-board, signifying that there are rich wares within, or like the hands which solid readers have observed in the margin of the older Puritanic books, drawing attention to something particularly worthy of observation." I would add, behold is like a divine highlighter, a divine underlining of an especially striking or important text. It says in effect "Listen up, all ye who would be wise in the ways of Jehovah!" I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb - The basic meaning of Horeb (see more below) is desolate! God addresses the question of the faithless Israelites before they even ask it in Ex 17:7 "Is the LORD among us, or not?" He is not only present in the pillars of smoke and fire but now present by His very presence. Little wonder that the first word was "Behold!" Jehovah Himself would literally stand on the rock! Did Moses and Israel actually see Him or a manifestation of His presence? Was it the pillar they saw? While we will have to wait until Heaven to know for sure, it is certainly possible. However, the text does not say, but clearly He stood on the rock, so this would quality as a Theophany, and I personally think it was a Christophany, a manifestation of the preincarnate Christ (See study of Angel of the LORD). This scene in some ways reminds me of the scene in Judges 2:1-2+ "Now the Angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land which I have sworn to your fathers; and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you. And as for you, you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed Me; what is this you have done?" In both scenes Israel was essentially expressing disobedience to Yahweh and so Yahweh makes a personal appearance (the details as we said are uncertain). This miracle demonstrated that God did not bring them out to the wilderness to kill them and that He was indeed with them. NET Note - The presence of Yahweh at this rock enabled Paul to develop a midrashic lesson, an analogical application: Christ was present with Israel to provide water for them in the wilderness. So this was a Christophany. But Paul takes it a step further to equate the rock with Christ, for just as it was struck to produce water, so Christ would be struck to produce rivers of living water. The provision of bread to eat and water to drink provided for Paul a ready analogy to the provisions of Christ in the gospel (1 Cor 10:4) ESV Study Note on I will stand before you there - The Lord’s presence presumably was manifested in the pillar of cloud (see Ex 13:21-22), providing protection for Moses from the quarreling people of Israel, but also as a demonstration of God’s power, producing fear and awe among the people. The trustworthiness of God’s promise to provide for his people is dramatically demonstrated, as Moses obeys God’s command to strike the rock and the Lord provides water for his people. In light of God’s promise to stand there “on the rock,” some interpreters see a close identification between the presence of God and the rock itself. The Reformation Study Bible on I will stand before you there - An astonishing statement. Man stands before God, not God before man (Deut. 19:17; 25:1-3; 17:8-13). In this trial God takes the place of the accused, standing in the dock. God is described as the Rock in Deuteronomy, all the same Hebrew noun (tsur) as used in Exodus 17:6... Deuteronomy 32:4 “The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He. Deuteronomy 32:15 “But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked– You are grown fat, thick, and sleek– Then he forsook God who made him, And scorned the Rock of his salvation. Deuteronomy 32:18 “You neglected the Rock who begot you, And forgot the God who gave you birth. Deuteronomy 32:31 “Indeed their rock is not like our Rock, Even our enemies themselves judge this. On the rock at Horeb - The phrase rock at Horeb can be confusing because normally "Horeb" is linked with Mount Sinai. Even the NLT paraphrases it "the rock at Mount Sinai" which is a misleading translation. This event did not occur at the same place the giving of the Ten Commandments took place. And yet Horeb was almost assuredly in that same region. Read Dr Yamauchi's comment below as it helps us resolve the confusion. The point is that this rock was in the region of Horeb, but not actually at Mount Horeb (Sinai). Edwin Yamauchi notes that "In some passages Horeb seems to designate an area larger than Mount Sinai (Deut. 4:10; Deut. 9:8; Deut. 18:16). Moses struck the rock in the region of Horeb (Exodus 17:6), but not on Mount Sinai which the Israelites did not reach until later (Exodus 19:1)." (Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament) Horeb (02722)(choreb from charab = to parch) is related to the noun horeb which means dryness, drought, heat, desolation and here it refers to the geographic location. Called the "Mountain of God" in Ex 3:1. The Lord made a covenant with Israel at Horeb (Dt 5:2, Dt 29:1). Israel "made a calf in Horeb And worshiped a molten image." (Ps 196:19) Yamauchi adds Horeb is "An alternative name for Mount Sinai, derived from ḥārab and signifying a desolate region. It occurs seventeen times, including nine times in Deuteronomy. The documentary hypothesis suggests that this name for the mountain of God is characteristic of D and E (Exodus 3:1; Exodus 17:6; Exodus 33:6), while Sinai is used in the J and P sections (see, however, Deut. 33:2)." (TWOT) Horeb - 17v - Ex 3:1; Ex 17:6; Ex 33:6; Dt. 1:2; Dt. 1:6; Dt. 1:19; Dt. 4:10; Dt. 4:15; Dt. 5:2; Dt. 9:8; Dt. 18:16; Dt. 29:1; 1 Ki. 8:9; 1 Ki. 19:8; 2 Chr. 5:10; Ps. 106:19; Mal. 4:4. Below are most of the uses from Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy 1:2 It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea. Deuteronomy 1:6 “The LORD our God spoke to us at Horeb, saying, ‘You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Deuteronomy 1:19 “Then we set out from Horeb, and went through all that great and terrible wilderness which you saw on the way to the hill country of the Amorites, just as the LORD our God had commanded us; and we came to Kadesh-barnea. Deuteronomy 4:10 “Remember the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, when the LORD said to me, ‘Assemble the people to Me, that I may let them hear My words so they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.’ Deuteronomy 4:15 “So watch yourselves carefully, since you did not see any form on the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb from the midst of the fire, Deuteronomy 5:2 “The LORD our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. Deuteronomy 9:8 “Even at Horeb you provoked the LORD to wrath, and the LORD was so angry with you that He would have destroyed you. Deuteronomy 18:16 “This is according to all that you asked of the LORD your God in Horeb on the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, let me not see this great fire anymore, or I will die.’ Deuteronomy 29:1 These are the words of the covenant which the LORD commanded Moses to make with the sons of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant which He had made with them at Horeb. Gilbrant on Horeb - Mount Horeb, which is an alternative name for Mount Sinai, is derived from a Hebrew root that means "devastation" (HED #2817). The name probably denotes "a desolate place." Mount Horeb was the location of many significant events in the history of the nation of Israel. Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, at Horeb when the burning bush caught his attention (Exo. 3:1). Later, after Moses had triumphantly delivered Israel from their slavery to the Egyptians, the Israelites made a golden idol in the shape of a calf to worship by Mount Horeb (33:6). Not long after, the Law was given at Horeb (Mal. 4:4; Deut. 4:10). Centuries later, the Lord spoke to Elijah in a cave at Horeb (1 Ki. 19:8f).The theological significance of events which took place on this mountain is enormous. It is a place of divine revelation, where the Creator of the universe sought to reveal himself to his people. The revelations to Moses here, of the personal name of Yahweh and of the Covenant, are two of the most significant events in the history of humanity. The irony of this desolate area being the place where the living God revealed himself to living humans is rich. Scholars are uncertain of the exact location of Mount Horeb. Deuteronomy 1:2 states that the mountain is an eleven-day's journey from Kadesh-Barnea. This description tends to support a location in Sinai. However, dozens of locales have been proposed. The oldest traditons (fourth century A.D.) place Horeb at Jebel Musa in the Sinai Peninsula. Edwin Yamauchi gives four possible locations for Mount Horeb: a mountain in Midian called al-Hrob; Jebel el-Halal, thirty miles west of Kadesh-Barnea; Sinn Bishr, thirty miles southeast of Suez; and one of three different peaks in Sinai (TWOT, 1:319). (Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary) THE ROCK WAS CHRIST And you shall strike the rock - In Exodus Moses struck the life giving waters of the Nile turning them into blood which resulted in death (Ex 7:20, 21). In "striking contrast" in Exodus 17 Moses was instructed to take the same staff and strike the barren Rock in the wilderness bringing forth life giving waters to Israel! Paul in his description of Israel in their 40 years of wilderness wanderings, explained that "all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ." (1Cor 10:4) Did you see the verb "followed"? What is the picture? Thereafter for the next 40 years, wherever Israel went in the dry, arid wilderness, they were never without water for Christ cared for them. THOUGHT - May we be conscious of His daily presence with us and in us through His Spirit as we travel this world in our pilgrim journey "as aliens and strangers." (cf Mt 28:20 "lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”) Strike is the common Hebrew verb nakah (used over 450x) and is translated in the Septuagint with the verb patasso which means to strike down or slay as when one inflicts a heavy or fatal blow. Jesus used patasso in the description of His coming crucifixion in Mt 26:31, Mk 14:27 (quoting Zech 13:7+). Clearly the striking of the Rock speaks of Christ's death on the Cross. This same verb nakah is used in another "no water" situation described in Numbers 20:1-13 which occurred in the wilderness of Zin in the northern half of the Negev (map) and should be distinguished from the striking of the Rock at Rephidim in Exodus 17. Keep the chronological context in mind in the "no water" event in Numbers 20. There is an interval of 37 years between Nu 19:22 and Nu 20:1 as Numbers 20:1-22:1 records the beginning of the transition from the old generation to the new generation. They are back at Kadesh (see location in Wilderness of Zin). They had been here almost thirty-eight years before (Dt 1:19) and now they were back again. Thirty-eight years of wandering, going nowhere. Then the sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came to the wilderness of Zin (see location on southern part of this map) in the first month; and the people stayed at Kadesh (Where they had begun their wilderness wanderings in Nu 13:26). Now Miriam died there and was buried there (Miriam represents the first generation, her death symbolizing that the old generation would not enter Canaan). 2 There was no water for the congregation, and they assembled themselves against Moses and Aaron. 3 The people thus contended (exactly how the first generation of Israel responded to the no water test in Exodus 17. Contended is the same verb used in Ex 17:2 = riyb; Lxx = loidoreo in the imperfect tense = again and again, over and over) with Moses and spoke, saying, “If only we had perished when our brothers perished before the LORD! 4 “Why then have you brought the LORD’S assembly into this wilderness, for us and our beasts to die here? (Same thing the first generation had accused Moses of in Ex 17:3!) 5 “Why have you made us come up from Egypt, to bring us in to this wretched place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, nor is there water to drink.” 6 Then Moses and Aaron came in from the presence of the assembly to the doorway of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to them; 7 and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 8 “Take the rod (same rod used by Moses to perform previous miracles Ex. 7:19-21; Ex 14:16; Ex 17:5-6); and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it may yield its water. You shall thus bring forth water for them out of the rock and let the congregation and their beasts drink.” 9 So Moses took the rod from before the LORD, just as He had commanded him; 10 nd Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. And he said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?” (Instead of speaking to the rock, Moses spoke to the people, accusing them of being rebels against God) 11 Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck (same verb as Ex 17:6 - Heb = nakah; Lxx = patasso) the rock twice with his rod; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation and their beasts drank. 12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” 13 Those were the waters of Meribah (Distinct from the Meribah of Exodus 17:7+), because the sons of Israel contended with the LORD, and He proved Himself holy among them. (Numbers 20:1-13) Mattoon asks "Why was Moses to speak to the rock in Numbers 20? Why was he disciplined severely and not allowed into the Promised Land? Remember that the rock is a picture of Jesus Christ. Moses was to speak to the rock because it had been already smitten. Jesus needed only to die once for the sins of the world. His work was complete on the cross. John 19:30—When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. Romans 6:9-10.. Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. [10] For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Hebrews 9:26—For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself Hebrews 9:28—So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. Hebrews 10:10—By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Jesus arose from the grave and ascended to Heaven after His resurrection. He is at the right hand of His Father and dwells on high. Hebrews 10:12—But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; The resurrected picture of the ascension of Christ is seen in the words for "rock" in these two chapters. In Exodus 17, the word "rock" (tsur) means "boulder" but in Numbers 20, a different word for "rock" (sela' from root meaning "lofty") is used. It means "a lofty, elevated rock." Thank God we serve a living, risen, elevated Savior. Because He is alive, we can "go on." This was God's message to Moses in verse five. Go on! This is His message throughout the entire Bible. God forward for Christ (1 Corinthians 15:58) (Treasures from Exodus, Volume 2) Reformation Study Bible on strike the Rock - Moses lifts the rod of judgment and strikes the rock on which God stands and with which He is symbolically identified. God is not guilty, but He bears the judgment. The same verb for strike (nakah) is used to two other Messianic prophetic passages . The fact that these two prophecies both refer to Christ's crucifixion and both use the same verb "strike" would add support to the thought that Moses' striking the rock foreshadowed the crucifixion of Christ. Just something to meditate on.... Note that the Rock in the desert (like our Savior Christ Jesus) gave forth no life giving water until it was struck or smitten. By the same token our Lord Jesus could not become our Savior unless He too was smitten. Exodus 17:5-6 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand your staff with which you struck (Heb = nakah) the Nile, and go. 6 “Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike ( Heb = nakah; Lxx = patasso) the rock (1 Cor 10:4 = "the rock was Christ."), and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. (1) MESSIANIC PROPHECY #1 - Isaiah writes "Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten (nakah) of God, and afflicted." (Isa 53:4+) (2) MESSIANIC PROPHECY #2- Zechariah uses the same Hebrew verb (nakah) in his declaration to " "Strike (command - Heb = nakah; Lxx = patasso) the Shepherd (the Messiah) that the sheep may be scattered." (Zechariah 13:7+) This passage in Zechariah 13:7 was quoted by Jesus in Mt 26:31 (also Mk 14:27) clearly referring to His Crucifixion... Then (AFTER CELEBRATING PASSOVER) Jesus said to them (HIS DISCIPLES), “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I WILL STRIKE DOWN (patasso) THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE SCATTERED.’ F B Meyer on water out of a rock - This is strange! A rock would seem the last place to choose for the storage of w ater. But God’s cupboards are in very unlikely places. Ravens bring food. The Prime Minister of Egypt gives corn. Cyrus lets go the people of Israel from Babylon. The Jordan heals the leper. Meal makes poisoned pottage wholesome. Wood makes iron swim. A Samaritan binds up the wounds and saves the life of the pillaged traveler. Joseph of Arimathea buries the sacred body in his own new tomb. The rock - As discussed below this act illustrates great spiritual truths about Jesus Christ our Rock of Salvation! Perhaps your heart is faint or you are weary as you read this note. If so take a moment and ask the Spirit to speak to you, to comfort you, to teach you as you read a few of the passages in the Psalms that refer to our Rock... Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:31 For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God, God my Rock God is Our Rock Psalm 18:46 The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock; And exalted be the God of my salvation, Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. Psalms 27:5 For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. Psalm 28:1 A Psalm of David. To You, O LORD, I call; My rock, do not be deaf to me, For if You are silent to me, I will become like those who go down to the pit. Psalm 31:2 Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly; Be to me a rock of strength, A stronghold to save me. Psalm 61:2 From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Play Song or this one or this one (my favorite) Psalm 62:2 He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken. Rock of My Salvation Rock of My Salvation - another version Psalm 62:6 He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken. Psalm 62:7 On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. Psalm 71:3 Be to me a rock of habitation to which I may continually come; You have given commandment to save me, For You are my rock and my fortress. Psalm 78:35 And they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their Redeemer. Psalm 89:26 “He will cry to Me, ‘You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.’ Psalm 92:15 To declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. Psalm 94:22 But the LORD has been my stronghold, And my God the rock of my refuge. Psalm 95:1 O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD, Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Psalm 144:1 A Psalm of David. Blessed be the LORD, my rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle; Spurgeon says we are to note that the Rock "must be smitten in a peculiar manner; it must be smitten with the rod of the lawgiver, or else no water will come forth." Notice also that although the staff was actually in Moses’ hand, the psalmist writes that it was Jehovah Who "split the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them abundant drink like the ocean depths. He brought forth streams also from the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers." (Ps 78:15-16, see also Ps 105:41; Ps 114:8) And so the same staff that was used to bring judgment to the Egyptians, was also used to foreshadow the judgment with which God would smite His own Son! Spurgeon adds that "Our Saviour, Jesus Christ, was smitten with the sword of the lawgiver on earth (Moses), and by the rod of his great Father, the Lawgiver in Heaven. None but Moses might smite the rock, for he was king in Jeshurun. So was it with our Saviour. It is true that the Roman nailed him to the tree; it is true that the Jew dragged him to death; but it is equally true that it was his Father who did it all. It is a great fact that man slew the Saviour, but it is a greater fact that God slew him, too. Who was it said, ‘Awake, O sword, against my Shepherd, and against the man that is my Fellow’? The prophet tells us, when he adds, ‘Saith the Lord.’ (Zech 13:7+, quoted by Jesus in Mt 26:31, Mk 14:27). It was God Who delivered up his Son for us, and Who will now also with Him freely give us all things. Christ would have been no Redeemer unless His Father had smitten Him. There would have been no acceptable sacrifice, even if the Jew had dragged Him to death, or the Roman had pierced His side, unless the Father’s scourge had fallen on His shoulders, and unless the Father’s sword had found a sheath in His blessed heart. It was the sword of the Lawgiver that smote Jesus Christ, and made Him our acceptable sacrifice. Believer, take a view of this great fact; it will help thee most solemnly to adore both God the Father and God the Son. Remember, it was the Father who smote the Saviour; and it was the Son who bore the Father’s stroke. It was not the cruel Roman lash, it was not the crown of thorns, it was not the nails alone that made Christ the Saviour; it was the great fact that made him cry, ‘My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?’ It was not Pilate and it was not Herod that put him to death as our Saviour; they put him to death as a reputed malefactor; but it was God who gave him up to die for us. His Father said, ‘Take him, and let him die.’ It was from Heaven that the death-warrant came; it was by God that the blow was struck; and if it had not been from the Father, we should all have been condemned. It was necessary that the rod of the Lawgiver should smite this Rock of Ages, to bring out from it plenteous streams of water, which should cause pardon and peace to flow out to dying souls." And so just as Moses struck the rock to provide life-giving water for the people to drink, so God struck the Rock of our salvation in Crucifixion. In NT terms the living water made available by the striking of our Rock of Ages is the gift of Holy Spirit - the life giving, ever fresh, sufficient supply of the Spirit. On the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus "cried out, saying, “If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.’”But this He spoke of the Spirit, Whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:37-39+, cp Jn 4:10+, Jn 6:63). In sum we see that there could be no Pentecost without Calvary, no living, gushing waters without the smiting of our Rock Christ Jesus. And so in both the Old and the New Testament we see God's great and gracious invitation to drink from Christ the Smitten Rock. Isaiah writes "Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters." (Isa 55:1+) John closes with a similar invitation "The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost." (Revelation 22:17+) Are you thirsty (spiritually)? Are you willing to come to the Rock, the only Source of living water? The words of Horatius Bonar's hymn beautifully testify of Christ our Smitten Rock and the Living Waters that flowed forth His pierced side on Calvary's Cross... I Heard The Voice of Jesus say , “Behold, I freely give The living water; thirsty one Stoop down and drink and live.” I came to Jesus and I drank Of that life-giving stream; My thirst was quenched, my soul revived, And now I live in Him. Another Version by Michael Card THOUGHT - Will you drink, appropriating the spiritual nourishment by faith? What "desert" are you walking through in this season of your life? We all experience those dry, desert times in our spiritual life. May God grant us grace to recall the eternal truth that our Christ our Rock poured forth streams in the desert for Israel and He does the same for us, His beloved, for He is the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow (Heb 13:8+). Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee; Let the water and the blood, From Thy riven side which flowed, Be of sin the double cure, Cleanse me from its guilt and pow'r. Nothing in my hands I bring Simply to Thy Cross I cling Nake come to Thee for dress Helpless, look to Thee for grace To Thy fountain, Lord I fly Wash me Savior or I die. At Mt Horeb (Mt Sinai), God gave the Law. When Christ our Rock was smitten on the Mount of Calvary, He took the curse of the Law upon Himself as our substitute. And after He was glorified He gave us His Spirit. The Rock was struck on the Cross, not symbolically by the rod of Moses, but fully and truly by the wrath of the Father, and as a result we were given, not the LAND of Israel, but a LIFE forever with God. Matthew records that when "Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit....the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook; and the rocks were split." (Mt 27:50-51) The writer of Hebrews says that as new covenant believers "have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh." (Heb 10:19-20+) John
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Spurgeon - With Moses’ rod and his own word he cleft the rock in the desert, and forth leaped abundant floods for their drinking where they had feared to die of thirst. From most unlikely sources the all-sufficient God can supply his people’s needs; hard rocks become springing fountains at the Lord’s command. “They ran in the dry places like a river”: so that those at a distance from the rock could stoop down and refresh themselves, and the stream flowed on, so that in future journeyings they were supplied. The desert sand would naturally swallow up the streams, and yet it did not so, the refreshing river ran “in the dry places.” We know that the rock set forth our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom there flows a fountain of living waters which shall never be exhausted till the last pilgrim has crossed the Jordan and entered Canaan. Comment - The same verb for opened here in Ps 105:41 is used in Zechariah 13:1+ "In that day (RETURN OF MESSIAH, REDEMPTION OF REMNANT OF ISRAEL) a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity." Reformation Study Bible on water - The ultimate reference is to the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Zech. 13:1; Zech 14:8+ = [ED: THIS WILL BE IN THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM]; Ezek. 47:1-12 = [ED: THE MILLENIAL TEMPLE]). Jesus offers this water where it was symbolically poured out in the temple at the feast (John 7:37), and John notes the water that flowed from His pierced side on the Cross (John 19:34; cf. Jn 7:38+). Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, Whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified (THE IMPLICATION BEING THAT HE HAD TO BE CRUCIFIED). (John 7:37+, Jn 7:38+, Jn 7:39+) And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel - Don't read this too quickly. Moses is instructed by Yahweh to strike a dry rock. He was as human as we are, so surely the thought must have crossed his mind "What will the people think if nothing happens?" At least that is what most of us would have thought. But Moses action of obedience reflects his firm faith in God's promise and in so doing sets a standard for every saint of every age. Of course Moses had a foundation for his faith, for God had performed similar miracles before. Specifically we read of the staff and water in Exodus 7:19-20+ Then the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their streams, and over their pools, and over all their reservoirs of water, that they may become blood; and there will be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.’” 20 So Moses and Aaron (NOTE IT WAS A JOINT EFFORT) did even as the LORD had commanded. And he (MOSES) lifted up the staff and struck the water that was in the Nile, in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, and all the water that was in the Nile was turned to blood. David Thompson - God tells Moses exactly what he should do. (Ex 17:5-6) God had a plan for Moses and His Word reveals it. Two things critical to determining the will of God–prayer and God’s Word: Action #1 - Moses is to pass before the people . Ex 17:5a The language means that Moses is to take off walking by the people and in front of the people. Moses needed to be at the head of the people. God wanted these people to realize “this is My man.” Action #2 - Moses is to take some of the elders of Israel with him. Ex 17:5b What is stressed here is that some of the elders were to go with him, obviously not all of the elders. These elders would be witnesses of what God would do and would be able to tell the people about the great provisions of God. Action #3 - Moses is to take his staff in his hand. Ex 17:5c This is the same staff that was used to strike the Nile and it became blood. Now it would strike a rock and it would become water. That staff in the hands of Moses was able, by the power of God, to do some great things. Action #4 - God will stand before Moses on the rock at Horeb. Ex 17:6a The name Horeb is another name for Mt. Sinai (Ex. 3:1). There are a large number of rocks located at the base of this mountain, but there was obviously a special rock there that featured the presence of God that Moses was to strike. Action #5 - Moses is to strike the rock and water will come out and the people may drink. Ex 17:6b God was about to perform another amazing miracle. Moses was to strike the rock, which was not the normal place one would find water and it would yield so much water that all the men, women, children and livestock could drink to their heart’s content. So these people who had seen God send plagues, part a sea, destroy enemies, provide food and water were about to see another spectacular provision of God. At the end of Ex 17:6, Moses did so in the sight of the elders and every one of those elders could testify as to what they saw God do. Think for a moment about the amazing grace of God. His people are grumbling and complaining and disbelieving and God graciously provides for His people anyway. There is no question that, according to Paul, this event concerning the rock is illustrative of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4). He is the rock that was struck and just as this rock was struck for unworthy people, so was He. The end result of striking the rock was the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, as a result of accomplished redemption so that people would not perish. Dr. C. I. Scofield said this episode in Exodus is illustrative of the entire life under grace (Ex. 17:6). The rock is struck for unworthy people. The life that is offered is free, unearned, abundant, near and available. All one must do to be saved from death is reach out by faith and partake of the grace that is offered. (Sermon) NET Note - The reader has many questions when studying this passage (Ex 17:6) – why water from a rock, why Horeb, why strike the rock when later only speak to it, why recall the Nile miracles, etc. B. Jacob (Exodus, 479–80) says that all these are answered when it is recalled that they were putting God to the test. So water from the rock, the most impossible thing, cleared up the question of his power. Doing it at Horeb was significant because there Moses was called and told he would bring them to this place. Since they had doubted God was in their midst, He would not do this miracle in the camp, but would have Moses lead the elders out to Horeb.....And striking the rock recalled striking the Nile; there it brought death to Egypt, but here it brought life to Israel. There could be little further doubting that God was with them and able to provide for them. In the second giving of the Law in Deuteronomy Moses made reference to this "aqueous miracle" declaring “He led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water; He brought water for you out of the rock of flint. (Dt 8:15) Creationist Henry
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Spurgeon - They admit what he had done, and yet, with superabundant folly and insolence, demand further proofs of his omnipotence. “Can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?” As if the manna were nothing, as if animal food alone was true nourishment for men. If they had argued, “can he not give flesh?” the argument would have been reasonable, but they ran into insanity; when, having seen many marvels of omnipotence, they dared to insinuate that other things were beyond the divine power. Yet, in this also, we have imitated their senseless conduct. Each new difficulty has excited fresh incredulity. We are still fools and slow of heart to believe our God, and this is a fault to be bemoaned with deepest penitence. For this cause the Lord is often wroth with us and chastens us sorely; for unbelief has in it a degree of provocation of the highest kind. Related Resources: Christ Our Rock Christ The Rock of Ages Christ The Rock of Our Salvation Christ The Smitten Rock Christ Our Rock of Refuge-Pt 1 Christ Our Rock of Refuge-Pt 2 Christ the Stone - play Michael Card's powerful song Scandalon God's Name A Strong Tower The Name of God The Rock of our Salvation -William S Plumer (1867) Sing this great old Maranatha chorus entitled... THE ROCK OF MY SALVATION You are the Rock of MY Salvation You are the Strength of my life. You are MY Hope and MY Inspiration Lord, unto You will I cry. I believe in You, I believe in You For Your faithful love to me You have been MY Help in time of Need Lord, unto You will I cleave. C I Scofield's Comment - The rock, type of life through the Spirit by grace: (1) Christ the Rock (1 Cor. 10:4). (2) The people utterly unworthy (Ex. 17:2; Eph. 2:1–6). (3) Characteristics of life through grace: (a) free (John 4:10; Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8); (b) abundant (Ro 5:20; Ps. 105:41; John 3:16); (c) near (Ro 10:8); (d) the people had only to take (Isa. 55:1). The smitten-rock aspect of the death of Christ looks toward the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as a result of accomplished redemption, rather than toward our guilt. It is the affirmative side of John 3:16. “Not perish” speaks of atoning blood; “but have” speaks of life bestowed.
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Spurgeon - God heard his people’s cries in Egypt, and at the Red Sea: this ought to have bound them to him. Since God does not forsake us in our need, we ought never to forsake him at any time. When our hearts wander from God, our answered prayers cry “shame” upon us. “I answered thee in the secret place of thunder.” Out of the cloud the Lord sent forth tempest upon the foes of his chosen. That cloud was his secret pavilion, within it he hung up his weapons of war, his javelins of lightning, his trumpet of thunder; forth from that pavilion he came and overthrew the foe that his own elect might be secure. “I proved thee at the waters of Meribah.” They had proved him and found him faithful, he afterwards proved them in return. Precious things are tested, therefore Israel’s loyalty to her King was put to trial, and, alas, it failed lamentably. The God who was adored one day for his goodness was reviled the next, when the people for a moment felt the pangs of hunger and thirst. The story of Israel is only our own history in another shape. God has heard us, delivered us, liberated us, and too often our unbelief makes the wretched return of mistrust, murmuring, and rebellion. Great is our sin; great is the mercy of our God: let us reflect upon both, and pause a while. “Selah.” Hurried reading is of little benefit; to sit down a while and meditate is very profitable. Psalm 95:8 Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, As in the day of Massah in the wilderness, Spurgeon - If ye will hear, learn to fear also. The sea and the land obey him, do not prove more obstinate than they! “Yield to his love who round you now The bands of a man would cast.” We cannot soften our hearts, but we can harden them, and the consequences will be fatal. To-day is too good a day to be profaned by the hardening of our hearts against our own mercies. While mercy reigns let not obduracy rebel. “As in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness” (or, “like Meribah, like the day of Massah in the wilderness”). Be not wilfully, wantonly, repeatedly, obstinately rebellious. Let the example of that unhappy generation serve as a beacon to you; do not repeat the offences which have already more than enough provoked the Lord. God remembers men’s sins, and the more memorably so when they are committed by a favoured people, against frequent warnings, in defiance of terrible judgments, and in the midst of superlative mercies; such sins write their record in marble. Reader, this verse is for you, for you even if you can say, “He is our God, and we are the people of his pasture.” Do not seek to turn aside the edge of the warning; thou hast good need of it, give good heed to it. As far as they could do so they tempted God to change his usual way, and to do their sinful bidding, and though he cannot be tempted of evil, and will never yield to wicked requests, yet their intent was the same, and their guilt was none the less. God’s way is perfect, and when we would have him alter it to please us, we are guilty of tempting him; and the fact that we do so in vain, while it magnifies the Lord’s holiness, by no means excuses our guilt. we are in most danger of this sin in times of need, for then it is that we are apt to fall into unbelief, and to demand a change in those arrangements of providence which are the transcript of perfect holiness and infinite wisdom. Not to acquiesce in the will of God is virtually to tempt him to alter his plans to suit our imperfect views of how the universe should be governed. “Proved me.” They put the Lord to needless tests, demanding new miracles, fresh interpositions, and renewed tokens of his presence. Do not we also peevishly require frequent signs of the Lord’s love other than those which every hour supplies? Are we not prone to demand specialities, with the alternative secretly offered in our hearts, that if they do not come at our bidding we will disbelieve? True, the Lord is very condescending, and frequently grants us marvellous evidences of his power, but we ought not to require them. Steady faith is due to one who is so constantly kind. After so many proofs of his love, we are ungrateful to wish to prove him again, unless it be in those ways of his own appointing, in which he has said, “Prove me now.” If we were for ever testing the love of our wife or husband, and remained unconvinced after years of faithfulness, we should wear out the utmost human patience. Friendship only flourishes in the atmosphere of confidence, suspicion is deadly to it: shall the Lord God, true and immutable, be day after day suspected by his own people? Will not this provoke him to anger? “And saw my work.” They tested him again and again, throughout forty years, though each time his work was conclusive evidence of his faithfulness. Nothing could convince them for long. “They saw his wonders wrought, And then his praise they sung; But soon his works of pow’r forgot, And murmur’d with their tongue. “Now they believe his word, While rocks with rivers flow; Now with their lusts provoke the Lord, And he redue’d them low.” Fickleness is bound up in the heart of man, unbelief is our besetting sin; we must for ever be seeing, or we waver in our believing. This is no mean offence, and will bring with it no small punishment. (Treasury of David) Psalm 106:32 They also provoked Him to wrath at the waters of Meribah, So that it went hard with Moses on their account; Spurgeon - Will they never have done? The scene changes, but the sin continues. Aforetime they had mutinied about water when prayer would soon have turned the desert into a standing pool, but now they do it again after their former experience of the divine goodness. This made the sin a double, yea a sevenfold offence, and caused the anger of the Lord to be the more intense. “So that it went ill with Moses for their sakes.” Moses was at last wearied out, and began to grow angry with them, and utterly hopeless of their ever improving; can we wonder at it, for he was man and not God? After forty years bearing with them the meek man’s temper gave way, and he called them rebels, and showed unhallowed anger; and therefore he was not permitted to enter the land which he desired to inherit. Truly, he had a sight of the goodly country from the top of Pisgah, but entrance was denied him, and thus it went ill with him. It was their sin which angered him, but he had to bear the consequences; however clear it may be that others are more guilty than ourselves, we should always remember that this will not screen us, but every man must bear his own burden. Ezekiel 47:19 “The south side toward the south shall extend from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribath-kadesh, to the brook of Egypt and to the Great Sea. This is the south side toward the south. Ezekiel 48:28 “And beside the border of Gad, at the south side toward the south, the border shall be from Tamar to the waters of Meribath-kadesh, to the brook of Egypt, to the Great Sea. Quarrel (dispute, contention)(7379)(riv/rib/riyb from verb riyb = to strive, contend, conduct a lawsuit) is masculine noun meaning a strife, a controversy, a contention. The primary idea of this noun is that of a quarrel or dispute. The verb can describe striving in physical combat but it is an easy transition to verbal combat, a quarrel and to legal-judicial significance. "In poetic parallel it appears with words for justification, pleading a cause, chastisement, punishment. Psalm 43:1 is striking in this regard and merits full examination by the expositor. Interestingly rîb "strife," is in contrast with shalwâ "quietness" (Proverbs 17:1)." (TWOT) The Septuagint (Lxx) translates riv/rib/riyb in Ex 17:7 with the word loidoria (only in 1 Pe 3:9+) which describes verbal abuse intended to injure someone's reputation (slander). It is "speech that is highly insulting, abuse, reproach, reviling." (BDAG). Baker on riv/rib/riyb - It appears in reference to an argument over land-use rights (Gen. 13:7); the logical dispute the Lord has with sinners (Jer. 25:31); any general state of contention between individuals (Prov. 20:3); the clamoring of people for station or possessions (2 Sam. 22:44); and open hostilities with an enemy (Jdg. 12:2). Israel is commanded not to pervert justice in a lawsuit (Ex. 23:2). Similarly, the word is used in a legal sense to refer to an argument or case made in one's defense (Dt. 21:5; Pr. 18:17; Mic. 7:9). (Complete Word Study Dictionary – Old Testament) Gilbrant - Like the verb it comes from the verb rîv/rib/riyb the noun rîv, "lawsuit," "contention," is used of various conflicts among people. For example, Prov. 20:3 applies rîv to describe a quarrel; David uses it of attacks directed at him (Ps. 55:9); and the Book of Judges employs it to refer to war between two peoples (Judg. 12:2). It can also be used to denote strife among herdsmen (Gen. 13:7) and strife that is parallel to violence (Ps. 55:9).Though rîv can refer to the complaining or arguing of people (Exo. 17:7), it is most often used specifically of a legal argument. Job calls for his accuser to establish his indictment (31:35). Disputes or court cases in general are referred to in Deut. 25:1 and 2 Sam. 15:2, 4. The noun and the verb are used of covenant lawsuits God brings against his people, Israel, according to the prophets (Hos. 12:2; Mic. 6:2). In his mercy, the Lord takes up Israel's cause (Isa. 34:8) and the cause of the helpless (Prov. 23:11). Therefore, David called upon Him to rise to his defense (Ps. 35:23). (Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary) Rib/riyb - 61v - adversary(1), case(11), cause(9), complaint(2), contend(1), contention(1), contentions(3), controversy(1), dispute(11), disputes(1), indictment(1), lawsuit(1), plea(1), plead his case(1), quarrel(2), strife(13), suit(2). Gen. 13:7; Exod. 17:7; Exod. 23:2; Exod. 23:3; Exod. 23:6; Deut. 1:12; Deut. 17:8; Deut. 19:17; Deut. 21:5; Deut. 25:1; Jdg. 12:2; 1 Sam. 24:15; 1 Sam. 25:39; 2 Sam. 15:2; 2 Sam. 15:4; 2 Sam. 22:44; 2 Chr. 19:8; 2 Chr. 19:10; Job 13:6; Job 29:16; Job 31:13; Job 31:35; Job 33:19; Ps. 18:43; Ps. 31:20; Ps. 35:23; Ps. 43:1; Ps. 55:9; Ps. 74:22; Ps. 119:154; Prov. 15:18; Prov. 17:1; Prov. 17:14; Prov. 18:6; Prov. 18:17; Prov. 20:3; Prov. 22:23; Prov. 23:11; Prov. 25:9; Prov. 26:17; Prov. 26:21; Prov. 30:33; Isa. 1:23; Isa. 34:8; Isa. 41:11; Isa. 41:21; Isa. 58:4; Jer. 11:20; Jer. 15:10; Jer. 20:12; Jer. 25:31; Jer. 50:34; Jer. 51:36; Lam. 3:36; Lam. 3:58; Ezek. 44:24; Hos. 4:1; Hos. 12:2; Mic. 6:2; Mic. 7:9; Hab. 1:3 And because they tested the LORD - Jehovah had tested Israel in Exodus 15:25 and Exodus 16:4 but now they test Him (Ex 17:2, 7). The irony is that it was actually ISRAEL who Yahweh was testing by bringing them into this no water situation! There is one acceptable test God invites in Malachi 3:10+, but here in exodus Israel testing of Jehovah is an unacceptable kind of testing. Why is it unacceptable? Because it was driven by their doubt in God's ability to provide and their doubt led to a demand that God give them water (they said Moses but it was directly ultimately to God) in order to prove Himself to them, even though as the psalmist says "they had seen (His) work." (Ps 95:9) As noted below the verb for tested is nacah/nasah and it is translated in the Septuagint (Lxx) with peirazo (see note above), the present tense indicating they repeatedly tested Jehovah! AND it proved to be a costly mistake. The Psalmist records that the result of Israel's unbelief was a hardened heart... Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, As in the day of Massah in the wilderness,“When your fathers tested (nacah/nasah; Lxx - peirazo) Me, They tried (bachan; Lxx = dokimazo) Me, though they had seen My work. 10 “For forty years I loathed that generation, And said they are a people who err in their heart, And they do not know My ways. “Therefore I swore in My anger, Truly they shall not enter into My rest.” (Ps 95:9-11) Related Resource: What are the causes and solutions for a hardened heart? | GotQuestions.org The writer of Hebrews quotes from Psalm 95 giving a somber warning to the Hebrews who were considering Christ and yet being drawn back to the works based religious rituals of Judaism... DO NOT HARDEN (skleruno functioning as a command) YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME, AS IN THE DAY OF TRIAL (peirasmos) IN THE WILDERNESS, WHERE YOUR FATHERS TRIED (TESTED - peirazo) Me BY TESTING Me, AND SAW MY WORKS FOR FORTY YEARS. 10 “THEREFORE I WAS ANGRY WITH THIS GENERATION, AND SAID, ‘THEY ALWAYS GO ASTRAY IN THEIR HEART, AND THEY DID NOT KNOW MY WAYS’; 11 AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, ‘THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.’(AND THIS GENERATION DID NOT ENTER THE PROMISED LAND)” (Hebrews 3:8-11+, see the relationship vital between disobedience and unbelief in Hebrews 3:18,19+) Note on Heb 3:8 quoting Ps 95:8 - The Hebrew in Ps. 95:8 has "Meribah" and "Massah." The Septuagint (Lxx) gives these proper names as "the rebellion" and "the trial." The author of Hebrews does the same. Tested (tempt) (05254) See preceding discussion of this Hebrew word nacah/nasah which is translated again in the Septuagint (Lxx) with peirazo in the present tense depicting their habitual practice of testing Jehovah. ' So again they question God's grace, His goodness (see God's goodness) and even His presence. Let's summarize how Israel tested Yahweh by looking that the 3 statements they made: Ex 17:2 , “Give us water that we may drink.” (QUESTIONED HIS PROVISION) Ex 17:3 “Why, now, have you brought us up from Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” (QUESTIONED HIS PROTECTION AND/OR HIS PURPOSE) Ex 17:7 “Is the LORD among us, or not?” (QUESTION HIS PRESENCE) ALL THREE POINTS REFLECT THEIR LACK OF FAITH AND TRUST IN JEHOVAH! And this faulty faith was in the face of overwhelming evidence of Yahweh's (1) provision (Daily manna), (2) protection/purpose (Red Sea salvation) and (3) presence (Pillar of cloud) As Ryken asks "How many times was God going to have to prove himself to these people? He was guiding them day and night, feeding them manna six days out of seven, and still they wondered whether he was there for them. Their unbelief was unbelievable! God’s people were suffering from a kind of spiritual amnesia. Their memory trouble made them forget the provision, the protection, and the presence of God. In the words of the psalmist, “they soon forgot what he had done” (Ps 106:13a; cf. Ps 95:9). And as a result of their forgetfulness, they committed the great sin of complaining. This suggests one obvious remedy for our own discontent, which is to remember what God has done for us. When we are in need, we should recount all the ways that he has met our needs for food and shelter, for work and play, for love and friendship. We should rehearse the times when he protected us, sparing us from physical danger or from the consequences of our own folly. And we should revisit the places where he was close to us. God is our provider and protector, our ever-present help in trouble. If we remember this, we will be able to trust him without grumbling or complaining." (Ibid) Saying, “Is the LORD among us, or not?” - Answer? Of course He was among them. Every day they would see the Shekinah glory cloud (pillar of fire or smoke), which would give a vivid visual reminder that Jehovah was in their midst. Their question is self-centered, selfish, irrational, ill-founded, faithless palaver for they had repeatedly seen tangible miraculous, manifestations reflecting the goodness and grace of the LORD God Almighty! Israel was acting more like a petulant fleshly children than like children of the Most High God which they actually were. Rod Mattoon does a masterful job of alliteration (note the "P" words) in his comment that "God's people have seen the plagues of Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, the pillar of cloud and fire, the purification of bitter waters, and the provision of manna. Still they are perplexed, pessimistic, paganistic, and peevish. They questioned, "Is the Lord among us?" They were suffering from doubt of God's presence, providence, and promises." (Ibid)
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Spurgeon - Morning and Evening- “And his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.” — Exodus 17:12 So mighty was the prayer of Moses, that all depended upon it. The petitions of Moses discomfited the enemy more than the fighting of Joshua. Yet both were needed. No, in the soul’s conflict, force and fervour, decision and devotion, valour and vehemence, must join their forces, and all will be well. You must wrestle with your sin, but the major part of the wrestling must be done alone in private with God. Prayer, like Moses’, holds up the token of the covenant before the Lord. The rod was the emblem of God’s working with Moses, the symbol of God’s government in Israel. Learn, O pleading saint, to hold up the promise and the oath of God before him. The Lord cannot deny his own declarations. Hold up the rod of promise, and have what you will. Moses grew weary, and then his friends assisted him. When at any time your prayer flags, let faith support one hand, and let holy hope uplift the other, and prayer seating itself upon the stone of Israel, the rock of our salvation, will persevere and prevail. Beware of faintness in devotion; if Moses felt it, who can escape? It is far easier to fight with sin in public, than to pray against it in private. It is remarked that Joshua never grew weary in the fighting, but Moses did grow weary in the praying; the more spiritual an exercise, the more difficult it is for flesh and blood to maintain it. Let us cry, then, for special strength, and may the Spirit of God, who helpeth our infirmities, as he allowed help to Moses, enable us like him to continue with our hands steady “until the going down of the sun;” till the evening of life is over; till we shall come to the rising of a better sun in the land where prayer is swallowed up in praise. Exodus 17:12 A Helping Hand " and Aaron and Hur held up his hands" Exodus 17:12 Exodus 17 records a most interesting experience in the life of Moses. As long as his hands, grasping the rod of God, were up-held, Joshua and the Israelites prevailed against the Amalekites. As the battle progressed, however, Moses' hands became so heavy that he could no longer retain his posture. Aaron and Hur then held his hands up for him, and victory was achieved. Even as Moses needed the assistance of Aaron and Hur, so today those called to spiritual leadership need the undergirding of the people to whom they minister. I am thinking especially of pastors. I don't know of another work so demanding, discouraging, and fraught with potential pitfalls. These men need our support and encouragement. By the way, how long has it been since you took your pastor's hand and verbally expressed your gratitude for his ministry? A word properly timed will be, in effect, "holding up his hands," and will help to assure spiritual victory in your church. A terrible fire was raging, and many attempts were being made to save a child who stood at a top window frantically waving and calling for help. One man, braver than the rest, put forth a last bold endeavor to rescue the boy. Sensing the almost impossible odds, and fearing he might fail, someone in the crowd cried, "Cheer him, cheer him!" The people caught the words and shouted loudly. Inspired and encouraged by their support, the man doubled his efforts and rescued the child from the flames. Do you know any Christian worker who is similarly trying by all means in his power to snatch "brands from the burning," and to save immortal souls? Cheer him, and then see how your kind sympathy helps him to work on with fresh courage and renewed energy. O "hold up the hands" of the worker for Christ, Encourage his soul by your prayer; A handclasp, a smile, or a word of good cheer, Will help him life's burdens to bear. — G. W. Wouldn't it be fine if all those who point a critical finger would hold out a helping hand instead? In 1989, paraplegic Mark Wellman climbed the sheer granite face of Yosemite's El Capitan. On the last day of his climb, The Fresno Bee ran a picture of Wellman being carried triumphantly on the shoulders of climbing companion Mike Corbett. The caption read, "Paraplegic and partner prove no wall is too high to climb." What the story did not say is that in helping Wellman scale El Capitan once, Corbett had to make that difficult, demanding ascent three times! We need each other if we are to do what God wants us to do. Exodus 17:13 So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. Amplified: And Joshua mowed down and disabled Amalek and his people with the sword. (Amplified Bible - Lockman) NET Exodus 17:13 So Joshua destroyed Amalek and his army with the sword. NLT Exodus 17:13 As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle. KJV Exodus 17:13 And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. ESV Exodus 17:13 And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword. NIV Exodus 17:13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. Joshua 10:28,32,37,42; 11:12 Exodus 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries See Joshua - Portrait of the Man God Uses So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword - Notice the phrase So Joshua overwhelmed = Mowed down (RSV) disabled, weakened, prostrated, Septuagint = "put to flight, routed." The verb "overwhelmed" is used elsewhere to describe how man dies and is powerless (Job 14:10; Isa 14:12). Notice that the text gives Joshua the credit for the victory. David Thompson adds "By the time the sun went down, God had given Israel a total and complete victory over the Amalekites. It is interesting to observe that the text gives military credit to Joshua. This is perfectly consistent with the point of the context. God gives victories but He uses certain people to gain those victories. Often times a military leader gets credit for victory. Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr., was the four-star general credited with the victory that destroyed the Iraqi Army and liberated Kuwait in 1991. General Douglas MacArthur was the five-star general that was credited with the victory that beat the Japanese in 1945. These men did serve their countries honorably. But Joshua is named because he is God’s general. His victory was due to his connection to God." (Sermon) It is not stated that he gained the victory because of his striving, ingenuity or courage (all of which doubtless were present). Joshua gained the victory because Jehovah-nissi granted him the victory and this is a truth we must all continually remember. Even though we are beneficiaries of victories over the "Amalekites" (the world, the flesh and the devil) and even often are credited with those victories, the victory ultimately belongs to the Lord...we would not have "overwhelmed" them unless the Lord had been on our side. The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the LORD.(Pr 21:31) Victory comes from you, O LORD. May you bless your people. Interlude (Ps 3:8NLT) But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in time of trouble. (Ps 37:39) Our God is a God who delivers; the LORD, the sovereign Lord, can rescue from death. (Ps 68:20NET) Paul expresses a similar thought in the following passages... Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God (2 Cor 3:5+) in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him Who loved us. (Ro 8:37+). Comment - The Jewish NT paraphrases (Romans 8:37+) as "No, in all these things we are superconquerors, through the one who has loved us." Vine's says literally this phrase in (Romans 8:37+) is "we are hyper-conquerors," i.e., we are pre-eminently victorious" IN and THROUGH CHRIST. Francis Schaeffer echoes this truth noting that ""God was teaching these people a serious lesson in their first warfare, and no one was to learn it better than Joshua the general. In the midst of battle, is one to fight? Yes. To be a good general? Yes. But when everything is done, the power is to be understood as God’s, not man’s." (ED: And all God's people said "Amen!") Another aspect of God's training of Joshua was was that he was able to serve under Moses and observe that humble man's commitment to Jehovah and Jehovah's unwavering commitment to Moses. God reaffirmed this same unwavering commitment to Joshua some 40 years later telling him that: "No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. " (Joshua 1:5+). THOUGHT - Each of us needs a relationship with a "Moses" (or a "Paul") who can serve as our model. We each need to see in others both faithfulness to God and God's faithfulness to them. Who is your Moses or Paul beloved? Future leaders need to learn how to wait on (trust) the Lord (Isa 40:31+). Often their followers don’t always see as far as they see or have the faith that they have. The vision of future victory is what motivates a true leader (cf Heb 11:1, 2+, Heb 11:8, 9, 10+, Heb 11:13, 14, 15, 16+) but, as we saw in Exodus 16, Israel, too often was looking back to the appeal of the world and not forward toward the promises of God. An interesting observation is that the first victory by Israel in battle was over the Amalekites but their first defeat in battle was also at the hands of the Amalekites (Nu 14:39-45+). For insight into how to gain the victory over "the Amalekites" in our life you might want to do a simple inductive Bible study comparing these two accounts. Why was their overwhelming victory in one setting and utter defeat in another setting against the same enemy? Dear saint, may the Spirit of God open the eyes of your heart, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. Exodus 17:14 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” Amplified: And the Lord said to Moses, Write this for a memorial in the book and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under the heavens. NET Exodus 17:14 The LORD said to Moses, "Write this as a memorial in the book, and rehearse it in Joshua's hearing; for I will surely wipe out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. NLT Exodus 17:14 After the victory, the LORD instructed Moses, "Write this down on a scroll as a permanent reminder, and read it aloud to Joshua: I will erase the memory of Amalek from under heaven." KJV Exodus 17:14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. ESV Exodus 17:14 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven." NIV Exodus 17:14 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." 1Sa 12:24, Ex 12:14; 13:9; 34:27; Deut 31:9; Joshua 4:7; Job 19:23; Haggai 2:2,3 Nu 24:20; Deut 25:17, 18, 19; 1Sa 15:2,3,7,8,18; 1 Sa 27:8,9; 30:1,17; 2 Sa 1:1, 8-16; 8:12; 1Chr 4:43; Ezra 9:14 Memory - Job 18:17; Ps 9:6; Proverbs 10:7 Joshua 1:7, 8 Exodus 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries A MEMORIAL OF DIVINE RETRIBUTION FOR AMALEK Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this in a book as a memorial (reminder) - This is the first reference to writing an official record in a scroll or book. This particular "entry" was to be especially for the purpose of remembering the victory in the very first battle in which they nationally engaged (cf the memorial in Ex 12) Exodus 12:14 Now this day [LORD's Passover] will be a memorial to you, and you shall celebrate it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as a permanent ordinance. Several passages refer to Moses writing (so much for the skeptics who say writing was not even known in Moses' day! In fact writing was known for over 1000 years before the time of Moses! Exodus 17:14 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” Exodus 24:4-7 Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. Then he arose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 He sent young men of the sons of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD. 6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and the other half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. 7 Then he took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!” Exodus 34:27 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” Numbers 33:1-2 These are the journeys of the sons of Israel, by which they came out from the land of Egypt by their armies, under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. 2 Moses recorded their starting places according to their journeys by the command of the LORD, and these are their journeys according to their starting places. Deuteronomy 31:9 So Moses wrote this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel. Deuteronomy 31:24 It came about, when Moses finished writing the words of this law in a book until they were complete, The truth that God alone grants victory over one's enemies was as important for Israel to know as the fact that God alone was to be their source of food or water in the desert. And so too the church corporate and individual believers need to recall these foundational truths to mind. David Thompson - God wanted truth written and truth communicated to Joshua about the fact that God promises He will utterly wipe out the Amalekites. Now it is clear that Moses is the writer of what God wanted. In fact, C. I. Scofield said this verse proves that Moses was the author of the first five books of the Bible, a point that was never questioned until the 1700’s (Exodus 17:14 note, Moses As Author, p. 112). Now there has been a debate over whether or not Moses wrote a specific book containing this data or whether this is referring to what is stated here in the inspired book of Exodus. The noun “book” is articular in Hebrew, which leads me to conclude this is the inspired written Scripture. Joshua was going to wear many hats in God’s history. He was a leader and a warrior. He was to take in truth about God and one of the things he was responsible to remember was that God prophetically promised in writing that He would utterly destroy the Amalekites. Joshua himself would die before this happened. It would be Saul and David that would ultimately “decimate Amalek.” They would be the ones who would finish this assignment and fulfill this prophecy. Now this is a key prediction against a foreign nation. Foreign nations, as they relate to Israel, would be very wise to take a look at this prediction because is did literally come true. When God makes a prophetic prediction about nations, those predictions will come true. There is a scary prediction that is made near the end of the O.T. about the nations. In Haggai 2:6-9 God predicts that there will be a time in history when He will shake the heavens, earth, sea and dry land and “all the nations” to the point that they will take their wealth to Israel. In that same book God promises to “overthrow the thrones of the kingdoms and destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations” and He will kill all national powers against Israel (Haggai 2:22). Nations would be very wise to become Israel’s friend, because God promises serious consequences to one who is Israel’s enemy.(Sermon) If you are like me you are prone to forget things, including the good things that God has done for you. Oh, how quickly I forget an answer to prayer, a divine deliverance, or even divine discipline. Abraham Lincoln observed about his own generation We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven. We have grown in numbers, wealth, and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and which multiplied, and enriched, and strengthened us. What was God's antidote for forgetfulness? He instructed Moses to write a memorial describing what had taken place in the battle against the Amalekites. This memorial was to be read to Joshua, the future leader of Israel, so he would be sure to remember as well. Moses did write it down in The Book and thus God's victory over the Amalekites became a source of encouragement for Christians throughout the millennia. Dearly beloved, are you keeping a written account of the good things God has done for you? Perhaps you need to begin a spiritual diary. Perhaps you might place some memorial in your yard, such as a tree which would be a constant reminder to you and your children. You might place a rock in your back yard and write the date of the event on it. Here's the point -- our memory's are short, but God's goodness is everlasting and we need to do something to aid our remembrance of God's blessings. Then next time you feel downcast or discouraged, or you even wonder whether the Almighty God really cares for you personally, look at the tree you planted, the rock you placed or the journal you wrote in and refresh your memory. As someone has well said the weakest ink is stronger than the greatest memory! The battle against the Amalekites was not won by Israel's cunning or might but by the Lord's strength. The written word was to be a continual reminder of this fact even as the Bible today is to be to us a "memorial" of God's strength, sufficiency and ultimate triumph over all evil (be it flesh, world or devil). How important therefore to saturate our minds with the truth about Jehovah Nissi. THOUGHT - Do you write down "memorials" commemorating those things God has done in your life so that in years to come you might look back and be reminded of His faithfulness? And recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven - Regarding the memory of Amalek when a person dies they are usually soon forgotten. David affirms this general truth writing "I am forgotten as a dead man, out of mind." (Ps 31:12) In addition the grave (Ps 88:11) is called "the land of forgetfulness." (Ps 88:12) Recite in Hebrew means "to put in the ear". The KJV is translates it as to "rehearse it in the ears of Joshua" and Young's Literal has "set it in the ears of Joshua". Compare to his advice in Joshua 1:8 “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success." The defeat of the Amalekites was something God wanted Joshua to remember. Why? John Calvin reflects on the value of memorials explaining "lest he should faint under the many difficulties which awaited him. For nothing could better support him with invincible firmness than the recollection of this history, from whence he might be assured that the people would ever be victorious under the auspices of God." And the same holds true in your life, child of the Living God. As Moses’ “assistant” for many years (Joshua 24:13), Joshua stayed with his master and served him faithfully. God’s pattern for leadership is summarized in (Mt 25:21 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things, enter into the joy of your master.'"), and that pattern remains the same -- when we prove ourselves faithful as servants over a few things, then God can make us "rulers" over many things. THOUGHT - Joshua was able to give orders because he had learned how to take orders. Have you? God in a somber "I Will" declaration predicts Amalek's final, complete and utter demise. Amalek, a descendant of Esau, as discussed below is a picture of the flesh, the evil, corrupt, Adamic nature of man interminably bent on rebellion against God and His people. As Israel could not overcome Amalek by their own efforts, neither can you nor I overcome the flesh by our own efforts in this battle which is from "generation to generation" (1 Pe 2:11+; Gal 5:17+).