Exodus 17

Exodus 17:1

C. Rephidim (Chap. 17)17:1-7 At Rephidim the people contended with Moses because of a shortage of water. The Lord instructed Moses to proceed to the general area known as Horeb (meaning the desolate place) and to strike the rock with his rod. When he did, water flowed from the rocka picture of the Holy Spirit, who was given on the day of Pentecost as the fruit of Christ’s being struck on Calvary. Massah (tempting or testing) was where they tried or tested God. Meribah (chiding or strife) was where they strove with Moses. 17:8-16 Joshua (Jehovah is salvation) now comes on the stage for the first time. As the servant of Moses, he fought against Amalek in Rephidim. As long as Moses held up his hand in intercession and in dependance on God, the Israelites had the margin of victory. But when Moses’ hand sagged, Amalek gained the ascendancy. Amalek, a descendant of Esau, is a type of the fleshthat is, the evil, corrupt, Adamic nature of man. Observe the following parallels between the flesh and Amalek: (1) It presents itself after the Holy Spirit is given at conversion to fight against the Spirit; (2) The LORD will have war with the flesh from generation to generation; (3) It is never eradicated from the believer till death or the Rapture of the church. (4) Two means of triumph over the flesh are suggestedprayer and the Word. According to the ancient Jewish historian Josephus, Hur was the husband of Miriam, Moses’ sister. This same Hur was later left with Aaron to supervise the people while Moses was on Mount Sinai (Exo_24:14). The-LORD-Is-My-Banner (Heb. YHWH Nissee) is a compound name of Jehovah.