water at massa and meribah victory over the … 17.pdfexodus 7:20, moses and aaron did so, just as...

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 1 Commentary and Questions by Wayne Harlan

Landmark Publications, Inc., 1045 Maynor Street, Nashville, TN 37216, U.S.A., John C. Sewell, Ph.D., Editor.

WATER AT MASSA AND MERIBAH

VICTORY OVER THE AMALEKITES

EXODUS 17:1-16



WATER AT MASSA AND MERIBAH

VICTORY OVER THE AMALEKITES

Text: Exodus 17:1-16, 1. The whole community of the Israelites traveled on their journey from the Desert of Sin according to the Lord’s instruction, and they pitched camp in Rephidim. Now there was no water for the people to drink. 2. So the people contended with Moses, and they said, “Give us water to drink!” Moses said to them, “Why do you contend with me? Why do you test the Lord?” 3. But the people were very thirsty there for water, and they murmured against Moses and said, “Why in the world did you bring us up out of Egypt—to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?” 4. Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What will I do with this people?—a little more and they will stone me!” 5. The Lord said to Moses, “Go over before the people; take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile and go. 6. I will be standing before you there on the rock in Horeb, and you will strike the rock, and water will come out of it so that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in plain view of the elders of Israel. 7. He called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contending of the Israelites and because of their testing the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”



8. Amalek came and attacked Israel in Rephidim. 9. So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” 10. So Joshua fought against Amalek just as Moses had instructed him, and Moses and Aaron and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11. Whenever Moses would raise his hands, then Israel prevailed, but whenever he would rest his hands, then Amalek prevailed. 12. When the hands of Moses became heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side and one on the other, and so his hands were steady until the sun went down. 13. So Joshua destroyed Amalek and his army with the sword. 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. 15. Moses built an altar, and he called it “The Lord is my Banner,” 16. for he said, “For a hand was lifted up to the throne of the Lord—that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.” (NET) Introduction: I. Main points:

A. The Israelites again rise up against God and Moses.



1. Exodus 17:1-3, The whole community of the Israelites traveled on their journey from the Desert of Sin according to the Lord’s instruction, and they pitched camp in Rephidim. Now there was no water for the people to drink. So the people contended with Moses, and they said, “Give us water to drink!” Moses said to them, “Why do you contend with me? Why do you test the Lord?” But the people were very thirsty there for water, and they murmured against Moses and said, “Why in the world did you bring us up out of Egypt—to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?” (NET)

B. Moses cried out to God for help.

1. Exodus 17:4-7, Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What will I do with this people?—a little more and they will stone me!” The Lord said to Moses, “Go over before the people; take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile and go. I will be standing before you there on the rock in Horeb, and you will strike the rock, and water will come out of it so that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in plain view of the elders of Israel. He called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contending of the Israelites and because of their testing the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” (NET)



C. The attack of the Amalekites.

1. Exodus 17:8-13, Amalek came and attacked Israel in Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua fought against Amalek just as Moses had instructed him, and Moses and Aaron and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses would raise his hands, then Israel prevailed, but whenever he would rest his hands, then Amalek prevailed. When the hands of Moses became heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side and one on the other, and so his hands were steady until the sun went down. So Joshua destroyed Amalek and his army with the sword. (NET)

D. Only the power of God will bring victory.

1. Exodus 17:14-16, 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. Moses built an altar, and he called it “The Lord is my Banner,” for he said, “For a hand was lifted up to the throne of the Lord—that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.” (NET)



II. Key quote: Exodus 17:6, I will be standing before you there on the rock in Horeb, and you will strike the rock, and water will come out of it so that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in plain view of the elders of Israel. (NET) Commentary:

Water at Massa and Meribah I. The Israelites rise up against God and Moses. (Vv. 1-3)

A. God instructed Moses to make the encampment to Rephidim.

1. The lack of water was once again a problem.

B. The emotions of the Hebrews were elevated to such a degree they were “contending with Moses.”

1. Contention raises this to a higher level; this is a legal term, as if they would bring a law suit against Moses.

C. They go so far as to question Moses’ motives in bringing them into the wilderness saying, “. . . did you bring us out here to kill us and our children . . .?” (Verse 3)

a. Instead of seeing this as their deliverance from slavery, they questioned Moses’ motives.

I. Moses cries out to God for help. (Vv 4-7)



A. Moses felt that they were on the verge of stoning him to death.

B. The Lord told Moses to take his staff, choose some of the elders and go to the rock in Horeb.

1. Horeb is synonymous with Mt. Sinai and the mountain of God.

a. Exodus 3:1, Now Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to the mountain of God, to Horeb. (NET)

C. The staff that Moses is to use is the same one that turned the Nile River to blood and parted the Red Sea. This staff indeed represented the power of God.

1. Exodus 7:20, Moses and Aaron did so, just as the Lord had commanded. Moses raised the staff and struck the water that was in the Nile right before the eyes of Pharaoh and his servants, and all the water that was in the Nile was turned to blood. (NET)

2. Exodus 14:16, And as for you, lift up your staff and extend your hand toward the sea and divide it, so that the Israelites may go through the middle of the sea on dry ground. (NET)



D. God instructed Moses to strike the rock with his staff and abundant water would be provided.

E. He assured Moses that he would be standing on the rock, a guarantee that he would not fail.

1. Obedience and trust in the Lord is rewarded.

a. Psalm 73:24, You guide me by your wise advice, and then you will lead me to a position of honor. (NET)

b. Isaiah 49:4, But I thought, “I have worked in vain; I have expended my energy for absolutely nothing.” But the Lord will vindicate me; my God will reward me. (NET)

c. Hebrews 10:35-36, So do not throw away your confidence, because it has great reward. For you need endurance in order to do God’s will and so receive what is promised. (NET)

III. Saved by water.

A. In chapter 16 God provided the Israelites with manna, the bread from heaven.

1. This foretold Jesus Christ who was the living bread from heaven which was God’s gift of everlasting life for all who believe and partake of it.



B. God now provides water in the midst of the desert to save the Hebrews.

1. This also presages Jesus who is the true living water, available to all who believe.

a. John 4:13-14, Jesus replied, “Everyone who drinks some of this water will be thirsty again. But whoever drinks some of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again, but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.” (NET)

b. John 7:38, let the one who believes in me drink. Just as the scripture says, ‘From within him will flow rivers of living water.’” (NET)

Victory Over the Amalekites IV. Amalek Attacks. (Vv. 8-13)

A. The Amalekites were descendants of Amalek, the Grandson of Esau.

1. Genesis 36:12, Timna, a concubine of Esau’s son Eliphaz, bore Amalek to Eliphaz. These were the sons of Esau’s wife Adah. (NET)

B. A nomadic warrior tribe, they inhabited the northeast Sinai peninsula.



1. The book of Numbers records further conflicts with the Amalekites.

a. Numbers 14:45, So the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country swooped down and attacked them as far as Hormah. (NET)

C. Holman Bible Dictionary, pg. 54, states “. . . The Amalekites were not defeated completely until late in the eighth (8th) century B.C.”

1. 1 Chronicles 4:42-43, Five hundred men of Simeon, led by Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi, went to the hill country of Seir and defeated the rest of the Amalekite refugees; they live there to this very day. (NET)

V. Joshua leads the army. (Vv. 10-13)

A. Moses chose Joshua to lead the Israelites against the Amalekites.

B. Moses observed the day long battle from atop a hill.

C. The mighty staff again proved the power of God.

1. As long as Moses raised the staff above his head in supplication to God, the Israelites prevailed.

2. This signified his dependence on the Lord.



3. For this reason Joshua won and saved the Israelites from annialation.

D. God commanded Moses to record Joshua’s victory as a memorial.

1. In future difficult times, Joshua would need this reminder of victory through God.

a. Joshua 1:5-8, No one will be able to resist you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not abandon you or leave you alone. Be strong and brave! You must lead these people in the conquest of this land that I solemnly promised their ancestors I would hand over to them. Make sure you are very strong and brave! Carefully obey all the law my servant Moses charged you to keep! Do not swerve from it to the right or to the left, so that you may be successful in all you do. This law scroll must not leave your lips! You must memorize it day and night so you can carefully obey all that is written in it. Then you will prosper and be successful. (NET)

E. This is our first introduction to Joshua.

1. His abilities as a leader and warrior will later be used by God to bring his chosen people into their promised land.



F. As with Moses, Joshua’s success will be dependent upon his strong faith in God and his willingness to trust the Lord.

1. Obey.

a. Psalm 19:11, Yes, your servant finds moral guidance there; those who obey them receive a rich reward. (NET)

b. Isaiah 11:3a, He will take delight in obeying the Lord. (NET)

2. Trust.

a. Psalm 56:3, When I am afraid, I trust in you. (NET)

b. Proverbs 3:5, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. (NET)

c. Isaiah 12:2, Look, God is my deliverer! I will trust in him and not fear. For the Lord gives me strength and protects me; he has become my deliverer.” (NET)

VI. Moses erects an altar. (Vv. 15-16)

A. Moses named this altar, “The Lord is my Banner.”



1. Altars were built as a reminder that God was responsible for their victories, and as a place to worship him.

a. Genesis 12:7, The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” So Abram built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him. (NET)

b. Genesis 33:20, There he set up an altar and called it “The God of Israel is God.” (NET)

c. Genesis 35:7, He built an altar there and named the place El Bethel because there God had revealed himself to him when he was fleeing from his brother. (NET)

d. Joshua 8:30, Then Joshua built an altar for the Lord God of Israel on Mount Ebal, (NET)

e. Psalm 43:4, Then I will go to the altar of God, to the God who gives me ecstatic joy, so that I express my thanks to you, O God, my God, with a harp. (NET)

B. Remember to give thanks to God for your victories.



Conclusion: I. The Lord has led the Israelites to Rephidim which was devoid of water.

A. Moses had to implore God to help him address this problem, and God directed him to go to the rock in Horeb.

B. As was previously pointed out, Horeb, Mt. Sinai and the mountain of God are synonymous.

1. God has brought the Hebrews to the site of miracles.

a. Exodus 3:1-2 records that Moses “came to the mountain of God, to Horeb. The angel of the Lord appeared in a flame of fire within a bush.”

2. Moses will strike the rock at Horeb with his staff and by the power of God water will flow, enough to satisfy the company of Israelites.

C. All of this was accomplished by God’s utilizing Moses as his representative.

1. This was ordained by God from the beginning.

a. Exodus 3:12, He replied, “Surely I will be with you, and this will be the sign to you that I have sent you: When you bring the people out of Egypt, you and they will serve God on this mountain.” (NET)



D. God has directed the Israelites to this mountain where he will continue to show miraculous things to his people.

1. These acts of deliverance continually show them the unending love of God, that he was always with them, shepherding them through the wilderness.

II. The second key event in this chapter is the attack of the Amalekites.

A. Joshua emerges as a strong leader and warrior, and, with the blessing of God, the Amalekites were defeated.

1. The narrative clearly demonstrates that the victory belongs to God.

a. When Moses was holding his staff above his head, the Israelites were victorious.

b. If his arms came down, the Amalekites were winning.

c. Again, Moses proved his loyalty to the Lord, thus insuring the victory for the Israelites in their first battle.

B. This bolstered their confidence and the news, word quickly spread through other nations that this was a people favored by God and protected by his mighty arm.

1. Their enemies feared them!



a. Joshua 2:9-11, She said to the men, “I know the Lord is handing this land over to you. We are absolutely terrified of you, and all who live in the land are cringing before you. For we heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you left Egypt and how you annihilated the two Amorite kings, Sihon and Og, on the other side of the Jordan. When we heard the news we lost our courage and no one could even breathe for fear of you. For the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below! (NET)

b. Joshua 4:24, He has done this so all the nations of the earth might recognize the Lord’s power and so you might always obey the Lord your God.” (NET)

III. God is still with his people.

A. He is steadfast and true.

1. His faithfulness to us does not waiver or fail because his love for us is eternal.

2. If we trust and obey him, he will always be with us.

B. The Lord Protects.



1. Psalm 3:3, But you, Lord, are a shield that protects me; you are my glory and the one who restores me. (NET)

2. Psalm 41:11, By this I know that you are pleased with me, for my enemy does not triumph over me. (NET) 3. Psalm 62:2, He alone is my protector and deliverer. He is my refuge; I will not be upended. (NET)

C. The Lord is faithful.

1. Psalm 23:6, Surely your goodness and faithfulness will pursue me all my days, and I will live in the Lord’s house for the rest of my life. (NET)

2. Lamentations 3:25, 31-32, The Lord is good to those who trust in him, to the one who seeks him. For the Lord will not reject us forever. Though he causes us grief, he then has compassion on us according to the abundance of his loyal kindness. (NET)

3. Habakkuk 2:4, Look, the one whose desires are not upright will faint from exhaustion, but the person of integrity will live because of his faithfulness. (NET)



D. In spite of the rebellious nature of the Israelites and their constant complaining, the love of God continued to be with them.

1. He alone provided for all of their needs.

a. There is not one time during this journey when they could claim credit for their food or drink.

b. All of their necessities were furnished through the faithfulness of God.

2. As he is their protector, provider and shepherd, he does demand their loyalty.

a. They must learn to trust and obey him.

i. Deuteronomy 13:4, You must follow the Lord your God and revere only him; and you must observe his commandments, obey him, serve him, and remain loyal to him. (NET)

ii. Ecclesiastes 12:13, Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of man. (NET)

iii. Psalm 31:14, 16, 23, But I trust in you, O Lord! I declare, “You are my God!” Smile on your servant! Deliver me



because of your faithfulness! Love the Lord, all you faithful followers of his! The Lord protects those who have integrity, but he pays back in full the one who acts arrogantly. (NET)



Questions

on

Exodus 17

1. In this chapter the Israelites’ main complaint was __________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2. Moses told God he feared the Israelites might: . . .

A. continue to rebel and complain. B. stage a sitdown strike and refuse to travel further. C. stone him to death. D. return to Egypt E. all of the above.

3. The Lord told Moses to go to the ______________ ______________ ______________ to get water. 4. God instructed Moses to take his _______________ and some of the ______________ _______________ when he went to the rock for water. 5. The mountain where these miracles were performed is known by three names. These names are __________________,



_______________ and the ________________ ______________ _______________. 6. Had Moses been to this mountain before? Explain. _________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 7. Moses was instructed to _______________ this great rock to get water. 8. The Amalekites attacked the Israelites. Moses chose __________________ to command the army of the Israelites. 9. Moses observed the battle from a hilltop. He had to _____________ ______________ ______________ above his head to God for the Israelites to prevail. 10. (a) To commemorate this victory Moses erected ___________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (b) What did he name the altar? __________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 11. In chapters 16 and 17 we have read about two miracles that saved the Israelites, these were ___________ ______________ ______________ ______________ and _______________ from heaven. These foretold what future event of salvation? Explain.



_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 12. The Israelites accused Moses of _______________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 13. (a) Two men, ______________ and ______________, helped Moses hold his staff above his head during the battle. (b) They did this until ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________.

water at massa and meribah victory over the … 17.pdfexodus 7:20, moses and aaron did so, just as...

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