OVERVIEW: Water from the rock in Horeb; Joshua leads Israel in defeating Amalek in battle at the Lord’s command; Jethro brings Moses’ wife and two sons to Moses in the wilderness; God appears to Moses on Mount Sinai; God gives to Moses the 10 commandments; the civil law for the Nation of Israel and the consequences for disobedience.
HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:
As we move into Exodus 17 in today’s reading, Moses illustrates what a trusting Christian does in times of testing— he turns to the Lord and asks for guidance! (Ex. 17:4; Jam. 1:5) In response, the Lord orders Moses to smite the rock at Horeb and out would flow water for the murmuring people of Israel. The picture is obvious: Christ, who is our Rock (1 Cor. 10:4), was smitten on the cross to provide living water to quench the souls of all who are thirsty! (Jn. 7:37–38)
At the end of chapter 17, Moses orders Joshua to lead the people of Israel in battle against Amalek (a picture of the flesh). Notice that God makes a point in 17:16 to let us know that the battle with Amalek is a battle that will continue from generation to generation. In Galatians 5:17, God makes a point to let us know that the battle between the Spirit and the flesh is a battle that we will face until we receive a glorified body! (Rom. 8:23) As pictured in Exodus 17, our only hope in winning this battle is to allow our Joshua (the Lord Jesus Christ) to lead us to daily victory. (17:10,13) Note that this battle was won only after Israel had received water from the rock! Water in the Bible is a picture of the Word of God—which is the weapon (the Sword) the Spirit of God who lives in us uses against the flesh! (Eph. 5:26; 6:17; Psa. 119:9–11).
Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, comes to the wilderness in chapter 18 and offers Moses some advice about how to delegate responsibility so that he and the people of Israel wouldn’t get worn out. (Ex. 18:16–18,21–22) Moses takes his advice (Ex. 18:24–26) and it certainly lifted some of the burden and responsibility off of his shoulders. Whether or not this is what God intended, however, is unclear. Even Jethro didn’t know if his plan would be pleasing to God. (Ex. 18:23) Though Jethro’s counsel makes a lot of sense from a human perspective (“the wisdom of men” – 1 Cor. 2:5), we must always be careful when getting “wisdom from this world,” (1 Cor. 2:6) because God says in Isaiah 55:8– 9: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
In chapter 19, Moses meets with God on Mount Sinai. It is here that God reveals to Moses His plan for the people of Israel and the rest of the world. (Ex. 19:5–6) God desired Israel to be “a kingdom of priests and an holy nation.” His intention was that Israel would be so different from the rest of the world that the people of the world would want what Israel had—namely, their God! And God’s plan is still the same! 1 Peter 2:9 says, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” God wants us to be so different from the rest of the world that they will want what we have—a personal relationship with the God of the universe!
In chapter 19 and verse 11, God paints a prophetic picture of the second coming of Christ. God says, “Be ready against the third day: for the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon Mount Sinai.” Peter explains in 2 Peter 3:8 that a thousand years is as one day to God. Using that equation, it has been about 2000 years (or two days on God’s time clock) since Christ died on the cross. The third day is fast approaching, when the Lord will come down in the sight of the whole world! (Phil. 2:10–11)
Chapters 20 and 21 deal with the Law of Moses, or the Ten Commandments, as we most often refer to them. We know that the Law is good (1 Tim. 1:8–9) because it embodies the character and nature of God’s holiness—but we must be sure it is used for the right reasons! The Law was never intended to provide our salvation—though it does have a very important purpose in bringing us to salvation! The law was given to reveal to us our sin (Rom. 7:7), so that in humility and contrition, we would cry out to God for the salvation He offers through His Son! (Gal. 3:19–24)
CHRIST IS REVEALED:
As the ROCK from which water flows – Exodus 17:1–6 (1 Cor. 10:4; John 4:14)
Through JOSHUA – Exodus 17:9–16
Note: Joshua is the Hebrew name for Jesus, the one who fights for us in battle with our enemies.
Through the LAW – Exodus 20:1–17 (Matt. 5:17; Heb. 4:15; Rom. 10:4)