Chapter 9

Please read Exodus, chapter 17.

This chapter shows us the truth about sinful human nature, the truth about the faithfulness of God, true human fellowship and truth about the power of a man’s prayer to God. On dry ground, between two walls of water, Israel had passed through the Red Sea. With their own eyes they had seen those walls of water falling down on Pharaoh and his army, they had glorified God Who, with a most powerful miracle had brought about their delivery. But, sadly, they forgot. In their rebellious attitude they did not count Him able to sustain them in the wilderness. Nevertheless, in His loving, gracious plan for them, God would never cease both testing their faith and seeing them through.

Exodus 17:2 “ So they quarrelled with Moses and said ‘Give us water to drink.’ Moses replied ‘Why do you put the Lord to the test?’ “

Exodus17: 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’ “.

Oh, the insult against God! It was not Moses who delivered them out of Egypt. And they knew that. But still and again God will be faithful to His promises.

Exodus 17:4 “Then Moses cried out to the Lord ‘ What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.’ “

In exasperation Moses cried ‘What am I to do?’ Once, in his younger years, Moses had gone out to do what he desired to do and he finished up being a murderer. Well, it was not God’s time for waiting. Moses must walk. In the exercise of faith he must walk. Everybody who wants to begin or be walking with God needs to believe His wisdom, His power and His love. Needs to have faith in what He will do or will not do!

Exodus 17:5,6 “The Lord answered Moses ‘ Walk on ahead of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take into your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I 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 started walking. The elders of Israel may have seen it as ridiculous. Could this be the answer to the grumbling of their people? In the hand of their leader they saw the staff of God. It demanded their respect.

Exodus 17:7 “And he called the place Massah and Meribah, (1) because the Israelites quarrelled and (2) because they tested the Lord, saying ‘ Is the Lord among us or not?’ “

Do we need any further evidence of the sinfulness of the human heart? Morning after morning there was manna on the fields, every day food on the table. And now, water from a rock. But, no song of praise or glory to God. I am ashamed! How often has my heart been like theirs?

Exodus 17:8 “The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.”

Amalek was not mentioned as one of the nations residing in Israel’s promised land (Exodus 3:8). Nevertheless, while Israel was travelling, Amalekites were treacherous enemies. Again and again they were beaten, but then did turn up again. And so it is for anyone who wants to walk with God. Through the death of Jesus and His vacant grave the enemy was defeated, but he still has access to the old, sinful Adam-nature of the followers of God, and he will certainly harass them.

Exodus 17:9 “Moses said to Joshua ‘Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God. v.10: So Joshua fought the Amalekitess as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. v.11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.. v.12 When Moses’ hand grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up – one on one side, one on the other, so that his hands remained steady till sunset..

v.13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.”.

Are you asking about the staff of God? I gladly refer you to the written Word of God, our Bible. Allow it to be God’s staff in your hands.

Moses desired and received a share in the wisdom of God. He knew what he could not and what he should do. Wisely he delegated half the job. Fighting with a sword he should not.

Is there a friend or a loving somebody praying for you? Does he or she or they have the staff of God in the hand? Do you realize that God always wins the battle?

The power of a man’s prayer to God! A weak man, a failing man.

Why is the christian church the most powerful union in this world? It is because Almighty God is the Leader. In Biblical fellowship and in prayer, millions of members are supporting God-appointed leaders and one another. Do you belong to that victorious Church?

Exodus 17:14,15,16 “Then the Lord said to Moses ‘Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Moses built an altar and called it ‘The Lord is my banner’. He said ‘for hands were lifted up

to the throne of the Lord. The Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation’ “.

Those words of Moses are still ringing true in our days. All the forces lined up against the Church of the Lord Jesus, they all will be obliterated and Jesus will be acknowledged as the Head of His Church and the glorious King of Israel. Today the battle is still raging, but many hands and hearts are lifted up to the God of Heaven. Most certainly He will be victorious when He will carry out His full plans for Israel and for His Church.