Hello and welcome to today’s exciting Bible study on Exodus 17. In this chapter, we will discuss God providing water for the Israelites and the victory over the Amalekites. According to biblical scholars, the events of Exodus 17 occurred around 1446 B.C.
As usual, I encourage you to turn to Exodus 17 in your Bible. Kindly invite the Holy Spirit to guide you as you read and study Exodus 17. I mention this in all the Bible Studies because it is only through the Holy Spirit that we get fresh revelation and knowledge to understand the word of God. No one else can teach you better than the Holy Spirit Himself. I am using the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible, just in case you want to know.
In the Bible Study on Exodus 16, we read and learned about God providing bread and quail from heaven when the Israelites complained about food, and the significance of the Sabbath day. Today, in Exodus 17, we will learn about God providing water from a rock for the Israelites and their victory over the Amalekites.
Backstory on Exodus 16
In Exodus 16, the people complained to Moses and Aaron, accusing them of leading them out of Egypt to starve and die in the wilderness without bread and meat. God heard their complaints and provided them with manna and quail, satisfying their needs in the desert. Additionally, He taught them about the Sabbath day, instructing them to collect twice as much bread and meat on the sixth day so that they could rest on the seventh day. This practice became an ordinance for the Israelites, and they continue to observe the Sabbath to this day.
Without any further delay, let us study together and learn what is Exodus 17 about, shall we?
Exodus 17 Summary
The children of Israel journey through the Wilderness of Sin and camp at Rephidim, where they find no water to drink. They complain to Moses about their thirst, questioning why he led them out of Egypt if they would die from lack of water. Moses, distressed by their anger, seeks guidance from the Lord. God instructs Moses to gather the elders and strike a rock at Horeb with his rod, promising that water will flow from it. Moses follows God’s command, and the place is named Massah and Meribah due to the people’s complaints and doubts about God’s presence among them.
The Amalekites attacked Israel at Rephidim. Moses instructed Joshua to fight, while he, along with Aaron and Hur, went to the top of a hill. Whenever Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed, but when he lowered them, the Amalekites gained the upper hand. To support him, Aaron and Hur helped hold up Moses’ hands until sunset, allowing Joshua to ultimately defeat the Amalekites. Following the victory, God commanded Moses to document the battle as a memorial and declared that He would erase the memory of Amalek. Moses built an altar and named it “The-Lord-Is-My-Banner,” because the Lord had sworn to have war with Amalek from generation to generation.
Exodus 17 Commentary
1. Exodus 17:5-6
The people complained again, and God provided water from the rock. The rock is the last place that one could look for water. Usually, we search for water from streams or rivers or a water body and not from a solid rock. When Moses struck the rock with his rod, according to the Lord’s instructions, water flowed from it, and the people drank it. However, this has profound spiritual significance. Jesus is the Rock, and from Him flows living water. He who drinks of the water from the Rock, Jesus Christ, will never thirst again. He is our Rock.
2. Exodus 17:8
Who was Amalek? Amalek was one of the grandsons of Esau. According to Genesis 36:12, Eliphaz, one of Esau’s sons, had a child with his concubine, Timna, and that child was Amalek. Esau and his descendants were enemies of Israel, with the Amalekites being among Israel’s chief adversaries.
3. Exodus 17:11-13, 15
It was not Moses’s hands that held the power or Joshua’s might, but rather God who secured their victory. Moses went to a high place – the top of a hill to oversee the battle. High places are places of contention for power, usually.
He called the Lord as YHWH Nissi – The-Lord-Is-My-Banner. The Lord revealed Himself as the Lord, the Banner of Victory. And a banner needs to be held high up with the hands during battle, symbolic of Moses raising his hands on the top of the hill, proclaiming victory for the Israelites during the battle with the Amalekites.
Exodus 17 Lessons
What can we learn from Exodus 17?
1. The Lord is our Banner of Victory
The Lord is also our banner of victory. He is the one who goes before us and when the enemy comes at you, you are to raise the banner of victory high up in your hands just as Moses did until you win. Don’t let go of God and don’t lose sight of who you are in God.
2. The Lord is our Provider
Even when the people complained, the Lord provided water for them in the desert from an unexpected source so that they would understand that He is their provider. He is capable of providing for us anywhere and from anything. In this context, the rock symbolizes our Lord Jesus Christ, who gives us eternal living water to quench our thirst. When you have a need, look to God and not to man.
3. The importance of having unity
The Israelites needed to unite against the Amalekites in the desert. While Joshua and his men led the fight, Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up the hill to support him. Their unity was essential for their defense. The Amalekites harbored a deep hatred for the Jewish people, and the spirit of anti-Semitism is often associated with the Amalekite spirit.
As believers, we must strive for unity as one church for God. A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. We need to put our differences aside and come together, as it is not about us; it is about God, His Kingdom, and His will being established on Earth.
Conclusion
This concludes the bible study on Exodus 17. I hope you enjoyed this free bible study and found it helpful in your Bible study journey. Feel free to share it with your friends and family. Also, share your thoughts and what the Holy Spirit has revealed to you about Exodus 17. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Until next time!