Chapter 17
There is a period the church observes before the Easter holiday called Lent, which started about 1,500 years ago. Different churches have different practices for Lent, but in simple terms, it’s a time of 40 to 46 days leading up to Easter. It’s a time for intentional reflection on your personal walk with God. It’s a time to consciously set something aside and replace it with Jesus—whether it’s time, food, or anything else you feel led to give up. The goal is the same: to grow closer to God in both your walk with Him and your relationship with Him. This process should be personal and private, just between you and God.
During these 40 days, you may experience periods of change. Some changes might be physical, but the hope is that all of them will be spiritual. It may be difficult, and you may stumble a bit at the beginning. That’s normal as we work to let go of old habits and replace them with new ones. The ultimate goal is that, by the end of this time, you will feel closer to God and recognize how He fills the gap in our human nature. You’ll come to realize that He is the true source of our completeness. While 40 days may seem long, it’s amazing how much growth can happen in that time.
Israel was also experiencing a similar 40-day journey. This chapter shares two stories that may seem unrelated at first—water from a rock and war. But both actually carry the same lesson: God is teaching His people to rely completely on Him. One story shows this in a very practical way, providing life-giving water. The other shows how we need to rely on God while still doing our part. When we come together and rely on God, each of us doing our part, victory is assured.
This chapter illustrates the Israelites’ process of change—moving away from the world, letting go of worldly ideas, and learning to rely on God. Don’t be too hard on them when you read about their failures. If you’re anything like me, you’ll probably stumble too as you try to learn the same lessons. Consider taking your own 40-day journey. You can start anytime!
Water From the Rock
1 And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, by their journeys, according to the commandment of Jehovah, and camped in Rephidim. [Sometimes even when listening, God will take us into dry places. Not to hurt us, but to teach us something. Whatever the reason, God has a plan, and He is always there. Perhaps this was to test the posture of their hearts.] There was no water for the people to drink. [a real problem: No water for millions to drink.] 2 So the people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water that we may drink.” Moses said to them, “Why quarrel you with me? Why do you test Jehovah?”
3 The people thirst there for water and the people grumbled against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?” [Already they forgot who brought them out of bondage. When we get in the flesh, we can easily lose our spiritual discernment. When we face real problems with real stress, our natural (worldly) inclination is for the fingers of blame to come out pointing.] 4 And Moses cried to Jehovah, saying, “What shall I do to this people? They are almost ready to stone me.”
5 And Jehovah said to Moses, “Pass in front of the people, and take with you of the elders of Israel and your rod, [symbolizing “judgment”] with which you struck the river. Take it in your hand, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there upon the rock in Horeb. You shall strike the rock, [Who is the Rock? “He was pierced for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities…”] and there shall come water out of it, [And when they pierced his side, blood and water flowed…”] that the people may drink.” Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the striving of the children of Israel, and because they tested Jehovah, saying, “Is Jehovah not among us, or not?” [A beautiful symbol of the judgement that Jesus will bear for us, and the life-giving salvation he provides us; even while we grumble and fuss. It wasn’t Israel’s faithfulness that brought this event. It was solely by God’s grace, despite their doubt. Yes, this is me. I am this Israel too many times I am sad to say.]
The Amalekites Defeated
8 Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9 And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us out 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 Joshua did as Moses had said to him and fought with Amalek. Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, [symbolic of prayer] that Israel prevailed. When Moses let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands were heavy. They took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon. Aaron and Hur held up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side. [This shows the power of prayer when “two or more agree/support” in prayer.] Moses’ hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 And Joshua overcame Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
14 Jehovah said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.”
15 So Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-Nissi. [The Lord Is My Banner] 16 Moses said, “Jehovah has sworn: Jehovah will be at war with Amalek from generation to generation.” [This is another “first mention”. The first war for Israel as a nation. The enemy came from behind, and attacked unprovoked. What lesson do you think God is trying to teach Israel and us?]
