Exodus 17

Exodus 17 recounts the Israelites' journey through the wilderness, facing challenges such as a lack of water and external threats. The chapter highlights how God provides for His people despite their grumbling and lack of faith, and how Moses, as the leader, intercedes on their behalf. It also introduces an important battle between Israel and the Amalekites, with a profound spiritual lesson regarding reliance on God’s power for victory.

Exodus 17:1-3 (NKJV)
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 Israelites’ faith quickly falters when they face a lack of water. Despite witnessing God’s provision before, they complain and challenge Moses, essentially questioning God’s ability to provide for them. Moses recognizes that their grumbling is not just against him but against God Himself, highlighting the people's tendency to doubt and lack trust in the Lord’s plan. The people’s complaint also reflects their short memory of the miracles they had recently experienced, such as the parting of the Red Sea and the provision of manna.

Exodus 17:4-6 (NKJV)
4 So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, "What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me!"
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.
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.

Moses, overwhelmed by the people's hostility, turns to God for help. God instructs Moses to take the rod, which symbolizes His power, and to strike the rock in Horeb. God promises to provide water, showing His continual care for Israel even when their faith wavers. This rock is often interpreted as a symbol of Christ Himself, suggesting that just as the rock was struck and water flowed to give life, so Christ would be smitten to give us the water of life. This miraculous provision of water not only meets an immediate need but also prefigures Christ as the "living water" who eternally sustains His people, embodying God's presence and ongoing care.

Exodus 17:7 (NKJV)
7 So he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contention of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, "Is the Lord among us or not?"

Moses names the place Massah (meaning "testing") and Meribah (meaning "quarreling") to memorialize the people's attitude toward God. Their lack of trust and open rebellion revealed deeper doubts about God’s presence and provision. This location becomes a lasting reminder of Israel's failure to trust in God’s faithfulness, even after all He had done to deliver them from Egypt and care for them in the wilderness.

Exodus 17:8-10 (NKJV)
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.

The Amalekites, a nomadic tribe, attack the vulnerable Israelites. This battle marks the first recorded military engagement for Israel after leaving Egypt. Moses instructs Joshua, who would later succeed him, to lead the people in battle. Moses takes the rod of God, a symbol of divine authority and power, to the hilltop, trusting that God would once again fight on behalf of His people. This prepares the reader for the spiritual dynamic that underlies Israel's victories.

Exodus 17:11-13 (NKJV)
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.

The battle between Israel and Amalek illustrates the power of intercession and reliance on God. As long as Moses held up his hands (a sign of prayer and dependence on God), Israel prevailed. When his hands grew tired, Aaron and Hur supported him, ensuring victory. This emphasizes the importance of spiritual leadership and community support in times of struggle. Joshua’s role in the battle also foreshadows his future leadership of Israel.

Exodus 17:14-16 (NKJV)
14 Then the Lord 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, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner;
16 for he said, "Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation."

God commands Moses to record the victory over Amalek as a memorial and a promise of divine judgment for their attack, emphasizing the conflict as a symbol of the ongoing spiritual battle between God’s people and their adversaries. Moses builds an altar named "The-Lord-Is-My-Banner" (Yahweh-Nissi), underscoring God as Israel’s protector who secures their victories. Centuries later, King Saul is tasked with eradicating the Amalekites, a divine directive to eliminate a persistent threat to Israel. Despite Saul's initial failure to completely follow through on God’s command, leading to his own downfall, the Amalekites continue to re-emerge and threaten Israel. They are finally subdued during King Hezekiah's reign, reflecting God’s enduring commitment to defend Israel and ultimately fulfill His promise to blot out the memory of Amalek as a demonstration of divine justice and the fulfillment of His commands.