Exodus 17
Water at Massa and Meribah
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.
The Israelites only traveled when the Shekinah Glory moved. By day the Shekinah Glory went ahead in a cloud pillar to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night
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?”
The Israelites were becoming more demanding and argumentative with Moses. They were testing Jehovah like a child tests a parent or teacher. They wanted to see how far they could go.
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?”
The Israelites had received more light than any other nation. They saw the ten plagues, the Red Sea, the quail, and the manna from heaven. Still, they complained. Israel was in her infant stage as a developing nation. She needed a spanking.
4 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What will I do with this people? – a little more and they will stone me!”
The Israelites were developing a mob mentality.
5The 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.
Jehovah commanded Moses to take some elders and fetch his staff.
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.
According to 1 Corinthians 10:4, the rock was a typology of the Messiah. This typology will be used several times in Scripture. The Messiah will be a stone that is tried and tested. He will be the foundation stone for those who believe. He will be a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense for those who do not believe. He will be a rejected stone. He will be a stone who crushes the nations at His second coming. He will be the head cornerstone.
In this typology, after the rock is struck, water poured out. After Jesus was struck, He provided the water of life.
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?”
Massah means to test. Meribah means to strive. The Israelites were beginning to test Jehovah at Massah and argue with him at Meribah.
Victory over the Amalekites
8 Amalek came and attacked Israel in Rephidim.
The Amalekites were the grandsons of Edom and great grandsons of Isaac. They were cousins of Israel. According to Deuteronomy 25:17, they did not attack Israel in a frontal attack. They executed a sneaky and cowardly rear attack on the weak and defenseless stragglers who could not defend themselves. This was a violation of the Abrahamic Covenant.
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.”
Joshua was introduced in this verse. Moses may have noticed strong godly character in Joshua. His original name was Hoshea, meaning “savior.” Moses changed this name to Joshua, meaning “Jehovah is savior.” This is the same name as Yeshua, which is transliterated into Greek as Iasous, and into English as Jesus. Joshua will choose some men to fight against the Amalekites. This was the first war experience of Israel.
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.
These three leaders of Israel went to the top of the hill to intercede for Joshua. According to Jewish tradition, Hur was the husband of Miriam.
11 Whenever Moses would raise his hands, then Israel prevailed, but whenever he would rest his hands, then Amalek prevailed.
God’s ways are not man’s ways. This supernatural method of battle showed the Jewish leadership that God is the one who is sovereign over war. God decides who wins and who loses.
12When 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.
Moses was required to hold up a staff all day long. He needed help. Moses was learning how to be a leader. He must rely on other strong men to help him.
13 So Joshua destroyed Amalek and his army with the sword.
Israel won, but only because of the intercession of Moses and the sovereignty of God.
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.
This is the first reference to Moses actually writing down the eyewitness historical events that were transpiring.
The Amalekites were the cousins of Israel. Since they violated the Abrahamic Covenant and attacked their own cousins, their curse would be extinction.
15 Moses built an altar, and he called it “The Lord is my Banner,”
Jehovah Nissi is another name for God. It means “Jehovah is my military banner where we meet and fight.”
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.”
These battles will go on for 400 years. The nations of Israel and Esau will battle again in Numbers 14:25. In Judges 6:33, Gideon will defeat the Amalekites and the Midianites. King Saul will exterminate the Amalekites. The Amalekites no longer exist.