Bible Study - GOD is --- (3) - Our Banner - Exodus 17:8-16 - March 18, 2018

Bible Study – GOD is --- (3) – Our Banner – March 18, 2018

This is lesson three (3) in our series entitled “GOD Is ---.”

Our focus scripture is Exodus 17:8-16.

We are always covered by GOD’S protection.

Again, we encounter another name for GOD – Jehovah-Nissi or Yahweh-Nissi or “The LORD is My Banner.”

Last week’s lesson ended with the Israelite’s in Elim. The Israelite’s journeyed from Elim to the Wilderness of Sin. In the Wilderness of Sin, the Israelites encountered another issue, starvation. They longed to return to Egypt where they had plenty to eat. GOD provided them with manna. Then, they traveled to Rephidim. In Rephidim they complained to Moses because of the lack of water which is recorded in the scripture leading to our focus scripture, Exodus 17:1-7:

Water from the Rock 

1 The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 

The whole Israelite community was traveling under the leadership of GOD. GOD’s desire was for the entire community to look to HIM for guidance when they had an issue. They encountered a dire need. They needed water. Water is a life or death issue. This was a teachable moment for the entire community. What would they do? Would they turn to GOD or turn to Moses for a solution? Let’s read on ---

2 So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the LORD to the test?”

Moses attempted to guide them to GOD for the solution and for them to build the right relationship with GOD. Why would it be important for the Israelite’s to build a solid relationship with GOD? GOD knew that they would need to trust HIM as they came to the Promised Land. It was a land of plenty but there were well fortified cities in the Promised Land and there were giants. They needed to have full confidence in GOD.

As Christians, we need to have full confidence in GOD as we face the issues in our lives. This was a teachable moment but -----

3 But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?” 

They needed water instantly. But they needed to seek GOD and trust GOD to supply them the water. Instead they sought Moses to seek GOD for water. After all Moses had the wooden stick.

4 Then Moses cried out to the LORD, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.”

The Israelites were ready to stone Moses. GOD used Moses to deliver them from Egyptian bondage. GOD had revealed HIS power to them by parting the Red Sea and drowning the Egyptian army that was pursuing them. GOD provided a protective cover to them – Cloud by day and Pillar of fire at night. But the Israelites did not think GOD would take care of them. They pressured Moses.

To whom does Moses turn? The only ONE WHO could help and that was GOD. GOD’S desire was for the Israelite’s to build a personal relationship with HIM and turn to HIM for the solution. Christians, even today, turn quickly to another person for help when they run into trouble. Our first response should be for us to turn to GOD. GOD then instructs us regarding our next action, which could be any number of things e.g. to seek the help of others or wait upon HIM or to do so-and-so. They had Moses as an example to follow. But the Israelite’s don’t seem to have the will to take on responsibility.

5 The LORD answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 

Moses called out to GOD in a panic and GOD responded.

What was the importance of the “staff” Moses held in his hand? After all it was a stick of wood.  Moses held it in his hand and GOD instructed Moses to take the staff with him. The “staff represented the presence and power of GOD but it was a stick of wood. More on this later.

6 I (GOD) will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. 

Moses needed to have faith in GOD. Strike a rock and water will flow out. Moses had witnessed GOD doing extraordinary things which began with GOD speaking to him from a burning bush. It seems that Moses took GOD’S instructions in stride.

GOD asked him to take some elders with him when he struck the rock. Think of the elders as the leadership of our church – deacons or elders. They needed to be the Spiritual leaders and they needed to step up to the plate of Spiritual leadership. GOD wanted the elders to stand with Moses to witness this event, which was obeying GOD’S command. It took a lot of faith for Moses to strike a rock to get water.

GOD is faithful and does what HE says HE will do. When HE does, that builds confidence, trust and faith in HIM. When someone else approaches GOD in our behalf that builds our confidence in that person. This often produces a thought from us such as, “I wish I had that kind of relationship with GOD” or so-and-so has a hot line to heaven.” The key is to follow the leadership of GOD in our lives. How and where do we get that leadership? It is by obediently obeying and trusting the indwelling Holy Spirit!

7 And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the LORD saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?”

GOD provided for their needs. Massah means “testing” and Meribah means “quarreling.”

Only GOD can produce water from a solid rock.

Consider JESUS as GOD’S solid rock upon which all Christians can stand and have their Spiritual thirst quenched by the living water that only comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Again, let’s consider the Israelite’s as a Christian building his or her relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS.

The Israelites were in Rephidim. So what will be their next challenge? GOD was leading them to an important and vital stop. Rephidim was their last stop before arriving at Mount Sinai, where the Israelites will have a huge decision to make.

But first, the Israelites experienced their first battle. GOD was revealing HIS protective banner over them in battle.

Let’s read Exodus 17:8-10:

The Amalekites Attack

8 At Rephidim, Amalek came and fought against Israel. 

9 Moses said to Joshua, "Select some men for us, and go fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with God's staff in my hand." 

10 Joshua did as Moses had told him, and fought against Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 

The Israelites encounter the Amalekites. The Amalekites were the people from the tribe as Amalek, thus Amalekites. These people were descendants of Esau’s grandson. They were nomads who roamed across the Sinai Peninsula from Negev to the border of Egypt.

We can only speculate why the Amalekites attacked the Israelites. Likely, if you were their leader and two-million people came into the area which you thought was yours, you would try to show them who controlled it. GOD had a two-fold training session – one for the Israelites and the second for the Amalekites.

Moses selected Joshua to organize an army to defend the Israelites. GOD is beginning to let the Israelites assume greater responsibility. But with greater responsibility comes greater responsibility.

Let’s read Exodus 17:11-13:

11 While Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, but whenever he put his hand down, Amalek prevailed. 

12 When Moses' hands grew heavy, they took a stone and put [it] under him, and he sat down on it. Then Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other so that his hands remained steady until the sun went down. 

13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his army with the sword. 

Moses was very visible standing on top of the hill with his hands held up toward GOD.

Moses had his staff in his hand. The staff represented GOD’S presence and as long as Moses held the staff high for the Israelites to see they defeated the Amalekites but when his hands grew heavy or tired and dropped then the Amalekites prevailed. Thus, Aaron and Hur came along beside Moses and assisted Moses with a place to sit and to hold his hands up.

The Holy Spirit is referred to as a paraclete or One Who comes along and stands beside and indwells Christians to give them strength and support. Aaron and Hur came along each side of Moses and held up his hands until the battle was won. The battle raged but victory was certain as along as Moses hands were up. The Holy Spirit gives us the strength of GOD as we battle the issues of life until the battle is won.

To me this foreshadows the human birth of JESUS. JESUS being 100% human meant that HE was subject to death and the perils of being a human e.g. HE died physically, was buried, HE was resurrected and lived upon earth for 40 days following HIS resurrection. HE told HIS disciples and followers to wait in Jerusalem to receive the power that would descend upon them soon after HIS ascension into Heaven. Of course, we know this power to be the Holy Spirit.

All Christians are indwelled by the Holy Spirit the instant they receive JESUS as their Savior. The Holy Spirit is their teacher, enlightener, comforter, strength, assurance and guarantee of GOD’S presence and confirms that they are GOD’S child.  

We know who Aaron was but we have limited information about Hur. Hur was of the Tribe of Judah and the son of Caleb.

Let’s read Exodus 17:14-16:

14 The Lord then said to Moses, "Write this down on a scroll as a reminder and recite it to Joshua: I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek under heaven." 

15 And Moses built an altar and named it, "The Lord Is My Banner." 

16 He said, "Indeed, [my] hand is [lifted up] toward the Lord's throne. The Lord will be at war with Amalek from generation to generation."

If we fast forward to the time when Joshua would lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, GOD instructed them, as recorded in Deuteronomy 25:19 - 19 When the LORD your God gives you rest from all the enemies around you in the land he is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you shall blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!

There will be pay day some day when you come against GOD as the Amalekites would discover. But would the Israelites obey GOD?

We are fortunate because we know the rest of the story. When all of this was unfolding in the lives of the Israelites they could not fully know GOD’S ultimate plan of salvation through HIS Only Son, JESUS.

We live in a unique time when we can see the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy which also makes us more accountable. Blessings!!!