Exodus 17: Water from the Rock
1 Then all the congregation of the children of Israel set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sin, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the people contended with Moses, and said, “Give us water, that we may drink.” So Moses said to them, “Why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt the Lord?” 3 And the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses, and said, “Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”
The congregation of the children of Israel set out on their journey from the wilderness of sin, "according to the commandment of the Lord, &c.—not given in oracular response, nor a vision of the night, but indicated by the movement of the cloudy pillar. The same phraseology occurs elsewhere (Nu 9:18, 19).” (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown)- God with us: the Hope of glory.
And camped in Rephidim. There was bitter water at Marah, but no water at Rephidim. "It was a bitter trial when Marah's bitter spring mocked the parched lip. But sweet relief was near. The sweetened draught soon changed vexation into joy. After a little pause the same dark trial re-appears in darker form. The multitude advance into the desert's depths. And here all streams quite fail. They thirst and search, but search in vain. The scene is universal drought. Thus troubles die and live again.
This is a common circumstance in faith's march. Afflictions clear away; but soon the self-same shadows grow thick. Joseph escapes the pit, and then the dungeon binds him fast. David, safe from Adullam's cave, must seek a refuge in Engedi's wilds. Troops, also, of lusts which seemed through grace, quite slain in former days, with mustered force will re-assail old age. The weeds of evil, long plucked up, will rear again their noxious head. Satan lays Abraham low in Egypt, and shoots an arrow from the same shaft in Gerar. The falling spoke of the revolving wheel soon re-ascends. The ebbing tide rolls in again tomorrow.” (Henry Law)
"Give us water, that we may drink... Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?" This seems like a reasonable request. But Moses was not in the place of God. Did they not know that he was only the servant of Yahweh. God Almighty worked all of the miracles for them and would provide for them.
4 So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me!”
"One of Moses' most characteristic and praiseworthy traits was that he took his difficulties to the Lord (Exodus 17:4; 15:25; 32:30; 33:8; Numbers 11:2; 11:11; 12:13; 14:13-19...)." (Kaiser)
5 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel. Also take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river, and go.
"Here is a beautiful example of the co-operation between God and his servants in providing for the needs of his people. Clearly the smiting of the rock was a very small item in this incident, the main consideration was what God was doing in the heart of the earth. But the two wrought together: Moses in the eyes of the people, God in hidden depths. Similarly we are fellow-workers with God. One of the greatest revelations that can come to any Christian worker is the realization that in every act of Christian ministry there are two agents, God and man: that God does not need to be implored to help us, but wants us to help Him; that our part is the very unimportant and subsidiary one of smiting the rock, whilst his is the Divine and all important part of making the waters flow.
[Moses went to God in prayer with burdens and care. BUT God answered him. SO] Did Moses go to the rock that day weighted with care, his brow furrowed with the anxiety of furnishing a river of which his people might drink? Certainly not; he had only to [TAKE SOME ELDERS and] SMITE: God would do all the rest, and had pledged Himself to it. So, Christian worker, you have been worrying as though the whole weight of God’s inheritance were upon you, but you are greatly mistaken; smiting is very easy work.
In every congregation and religious gathering the Holy Spirit is present, eager to glorify Christ, and to pour out rivers of living water for thirsty men; believe this. See that you are spiritually in a right condition, that He may be able to ally you with Himself. Keep reckoning on Him to do his share; and when the river is flowing, be sure not to take the praise. 'We are workers together with God.’ (1 Corinthians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 6:1) ” (F. B Meyer)
TAKE SOME ELDERS. It was not a one-horse show.
6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
"Reader! draw near in reverence. The ground is holy. That Rock is Christ! That gash is His wounded side! Those streams are His abundant grace!... The host needs water. But can the hard stone melt into running streams? Yes! All things can change their nature at their Maker's will. To serve His people the sea congeals, the flint dissolves. Believer, this is a marvel which your own heart knows. It once was as the nether-millstone. But struck by the Spirit's rod, it flows a rivulet of faith, and gratitude, and praise, and love. When Jesus is uplifted, scorn may demand, 'Can blessings break forth from that pierced side?’ Yes! By those stripes the heaven of heavens opens, all hindrances remove, and a wide channel spreads for grace upon grace to flow. The wounds of Jesus are the Spirit's avenue. They send forth blood indeed to purchase pardon. They give forth water, also, the sparkling emblem of the power of grace.” (Henry Law)
7 So he called the name of the place Massah [Literally Tempted] and Meribah, [Literally Contention] because of the contention of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
"So that had been their real transgression, the doubts as to the presence of the Lord with their army, the pillar of cloud and of fire apparently not being sufficient any more to uphold their faith. The events here narrated were considered an example of warning throughout the time of the Old Testament as well as in the New, Psa_95:8; Heb_4:9. And as it was Christ who journeyed with His people at that time and strengthened the faith of those who noted His presence in the miracle, so it is He who gives us at all times the true spiritual water to quench the thirst of our souls.” (Paul E. Kretzmann)
Jesus said: "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the [OT] Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.' But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." (John 7:37-39)
Exodus 17: Victory over the Amalekites
8 Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9 And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
12 But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
"Then came Amalek — When they were upon their march from Rephidim to Horeb, (Deut 25:17-18,) and fought with Israel.” (Benson) "The language implies that no occasion had been furnished for this attack; but, as descendants of Esau, the Amalekites entertained a deep-seated grudge against them, especially as the rapid prosperity and marvellous experience of Israel showed that the blessing contained in the birthright was taking effect.”(Jamieson-Fausset-Brown) So the main strife was not "right of passage”, as some say, but rather that old enmity between the seed of the serpent and the Seed of the woman.
MOREOVER: "They did not boldly front them as a generous enemy, but, without any provocation given, basely fell upon their rear (Nu 24:20; De 25:17), and smote them that were faint and feeble." (Benson Commentary)
But the Israelites came together as the community of faith- "See how God qualifies his people for, and calls them to various services for the good of his church; Joshua fights, Moses prays, and both minister to Israel.” (Benson Commentary) And others help support their weaknesses.
"Hur — A person of eminence, no doubt, but who he was is uncertain. Josephus, however, tells us, he was the husband of Miriam, Antiq., 50:3, chap. 2… [IT HAPPENED] To convince Israel that the hand of Moses (with whom they had just now been chiding) contributed more to their safety than their own hands; the success rises and falls, as Moses lifts up or lets down his hand. The Church’s cause is ordinarily more or less successful, according as the Church’s friends are more or less fervent in prayer.” (Benson Commentary)
"The hands of Moses being thus stayed, were steady till the going down of the sun. It was great encouragement to the people to see Joshua before them in the field of battle, and Moses above them on the hill. Christ is both to us; our Joshua, the Captain of our salvation, who fights our battles, and our Moses, who ever lives, making intercession above, that our faith fail not. Weapons formed against God's Israel cannot prosper long, and shall be broken at last.” (Matthew Henry)
"Though God gave the victory, yet it is said Joshua defeated Amalek, because Joshua was a type of Christ, and of the same name, and in him it is that we are more than conquerors.” (Benson Commentary)
14 Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.”
15 And Moses built an altar and called its name, Yahweh-Is-My-Banner [Nissi];16 for he said, “Because Yahweh has sworn: Yahweh will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”
“The Lord said, Write this for a memorial in the book” "This is the first mention of writing we find in Scripture.” (Benson Commentary) "It is clear that a book already existed, in which Moses entered events of interest, and that now he was divinely commanded to record in it the great victory over Amalek, and the threat uttered against them. The record was to be for a memorial…” (Pulpit Commentary) "If the bloody character of this statute seems to be at variance with the mild and merciful character of God, the reasons are to be sought in the deep and implacable vengeance they meditated against Israel (Ps 83:4)” (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown)… and the cowardice in which they attacked the week and feeble first.
Yahweh said it and told Moses to record it. This assures us the ultimate destruction of God's enemies at the end of time. All true Israelites must join the work. “Israel had been led by the hand, now they must be tried to walk alone, and defend themselves. Learn then, oh my soul, to stay thyself on Christ the rock, with uplifted hands in prayer, till the sun of life shall go down; then the name of Amalek, yea, of all the enemies of the church, shall forever be blotted out.” (Sutcliffe Commentary)