Exodus 17 – Hands Up! Winning!

All of the congregation of Israel set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sin as commanded by the Lord and camped in Rephidim. There was no water for them to drink in Rephidim. The people contended with Moses, saying, “Give us water, that we may drink.” Moses’ response was, “Why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt the Lord?” The people were thirsty for water and they complained against Moses. The people asked Moses, “Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” I guess they forgot that it was God who actually parted the Red Sea and who led them with the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire. Moses was just the easy target for them, I guess! Contending with God was going to be a lost battle. So, Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me!” God told Moses to go before the people and to take some of the elders of Israel. God also told him to take the rod that he used to strike the river and go. He said that He would stand before him on the rock in Horeb and that Moses should strike the rock and water would come out of it, so that the people could drink. Moses was obedient and did as he was told in the sight of the elders. Moses called the name of the place Massah (trial, temptation) and Meribah (quarrel or strife) because of the people’s contention and they tempted the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” Please note that “tempted” in this sense is basically saying they complained against God, which we know they did on many occasions. After seeing such miraculous wonders, how could they question God’s presence with them? Have you ever questioned God’s presence in your life at any point especially when you were under a spiritual attack?

Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. Moses told Joshua to choose some men and go out to fight with Amalek. He said that on the next day he would stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in his hand. Joshua did as instructed by Moses and went to fight with Amalek. Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. So, Hands Up! Winning! When your hands are up, they are automatically in a position of praise. Only throw your hands up in surrender if you are surrendering to God. satan will tempt you to throw your hands up to quit what God has ordained you to do or to surrender to him (small “s” intentionally used for satan). Make him mad and use those “Hands Up” in praise to The Lord, Our God! Moses’ hands became heavy. They (Aaron and Hur) put a stone under him and he sat upon it. They supported Moses’ hands, with one on one side and the other on the other side. Do you have such a support system? Are you a part of such a support system? His hands were steady until the sun went down. Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. The Lord told Moses to write this event for a memorial in the book and tell it to Joshua, that God would utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. During the time(s) when Moses’ hands were too heavy to hold up and Amalek was winning, I guess Joshua and the men with him wondered what was happening that they were losing.

Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner. He said, “Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

Exodus 18 is the next stop on our journey.

To God Be The Glory!

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