During the Exodus, already in the wilderness, after the Hebrews had left Egypt, the same story keeps repeating. The people, faced with yet another problem, one that was, in general, completely ordinary for desert dwellers, begin demanding from Moses and from his God that...
During the Exodus, already in the wilderness, after the Hebrews had left Egypt, the same story keeps repeating. When the people face yet another problem, one that was, in general, perfectly ordinary for desert dwellers, they begin demanding from Moses and from his God that the problem be solved immediately. And God's answer to such claims becomes harsher and harsher. This is understandable: over time everyone, one way or another, gets used to changed living conditions.
Especially since no one drove the people into the wilderness by force. It was not hard to realize that a nomad's life in the Sinai wilderness differs markedly from the life of an Egyptian. At first, of course, one could still understand the reaction of people who panicked at the first difficulties: for someone unaccustomed to it, the wilderness is a serious trial. But the panic repeated again and again, and then it became clear that the issue was not an inability but an unwillingness to live this new, difficult, but free life. An unwillingness to change.
Of course, distrust of God was also plain: after all, He had often brought His people out of situations that seemed hopeless to them. But behind this, so to speak, local distrust stood an absolute distrust, which in the end led God to give up the possibility of bringing the first generation that had come out of Egypt into the land He had promised to Abraham. It is no accident that so many times the people wanted to turn back to Egypt. Fear, of course, did its work. But there was more than fear here. This first generation of Hebrews who left Egypt was sure of nothing. Should we go there, into an unknown land? Will we make it? Or would it be better to turn back right away? There is no freedom there, no one needs us there, but at least we will stay alive...
With such an attitude, of course, there could be no talk of trust in God. People used to slavery trust no one. Trust is possible only for a person who is inwardly free, and among those who had left Egypt there were almost none like that. So the conquest of the land had to be postponed, postponed for two generations. The land was conquered by the grandchildren of those who had left Egypt. They were free, they knew how to trust God, and they proved worthy to receive the land promised by God to their fathers.
17 In this chapter are recorded,
17:1 They journeyed according to the commandment of the Lord, led by the pillar of cloud and fire, and yet they came to a place where there was no water for them to drink - We may be in the way of our duty, and yet meet with troubles, which Providence brings us into for the trial of our faith.
17:5 Go on before the people - Though they spake of stoning him. He must take his rod with him, not to summon some plague to chastise them, but to fetch water for their supply. O the wonderful patience and forbearance of God towards provoking sinners! He maintains those that are at war with him, and reaches out the hand of his bounty to those that lift up the heel against him. If God had only shewed Moses a fountain of water in the wilderness, as he did to Hagar, not far from hence, Gen 21:19, that had been a great favour; but that he might shew hispower as well as his pity, and make it a miracle of mercy, he gave them water out of a rock. He directed Moses whither to go, appointed him to take of the elders of Israel with him, to be witnesses of what was done, ordered him to smite the rock, which he did, and immediately water came out of it in great abundance, which ran throughout the camp in streams and rivers, Psa 78:15-16, and followed them wherever they went in that wilderness: God shewed his care of his people in giving them water when they wanted it; his own power in fetching it out of a rock, and put an honour upon Moses in appointing the water to flow out upon his smiting of the rock. This fair water that came out of the rock is called honey and oil, Deu 32:13, because the people's thirst made it doubly pleasant; coming when they were in extreme want. It is probable that the people digged canals for the conveyance of it, and pools for the reception of it. Let this direct us to live in a dependance,
17:8 Then Amalek came and fought with Israel - The Amalekites were the posterity of Esau, who hated Jacob because of the birth - right and blessing. They did not boldly front them as a generous enemy, but without any provocation given, basely fell upon their rear, and smote them that were faint and feeble.
17:9 I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my land - See how God qualifies his people for, and calls them to various services for the good of his church; Joshua fights, Moses prays, and both minister to Israel. This rod Moses held up, not so much to Israel as to animate them; as to God by way of appeal to him; Is not the battle the Lord's? Is not he able to help, and engaged to help? Witness this rod! Moses was not only a standard - bearer, but an intercessor, pleading with God for success and victory.
17:10 Hur is supposed to have been the husband of Miriam.
17:11 And when Moses held vp his hand in prayer (so the Chaldee explains it) Israel prevailed, but when he let down his hand from prayer, Amalek prevailed - To convince Israel that the hand of Moses (with whom they had just now been chiding) contributed more to their safety than their own hands; the success rises and falls, as Moses lifts up or lets down his hand. The church's cause is ordinarily more or less successful, according as the church's friends are more or less fervent in prayer.
17:13 Though God gave the victory, yet it is said Joshua discomfited Amalek, because Joshua was a type of Christ, and of the same name, and in him it is that we are more than conquerors.
17:15 And Moses built an altar, and called it Jehovah - niffi - The Lord is my banner. The presence and power of Jehovah was the banner under which they were lifted, by which they were animated, and kept together, and therefore which they erected in the day of their triumph. In the name of our God we must always lift up our banners: He that doth all the work should have all the praise. Write this for a memorial - This is the first mention of writing we find in scripture; and perhaps the command was not given till after the writing of the law on tables of stone.