Walking Through the Text

Memorial Drive

2/5/17

BATTLE AT REPHIDIM

Exodus 17:8-16

WALKING THROUGH THE TEXT …

… THE CIRCUMSTANCE: First Blood (8)

“Then Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim.”(Ex. 17:8)

… THE BATTLE PLAN: You Fight, I’ll Pray! (9)

“So Moses said to Joshua, ‘Choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.’” (Ex. 17:9)

The Bad Guys: Amalek

Bad blood …

Protecting borders …

Living by plunder …

“Their use of the camel allowed them to ride in, destroy crops, take plunder, and then escape back into the desert with such speed the Israelites could not catch them.”(Gideon)

“… they would come in like locusts … both they and their camels were innumerable; and they came into the land to devastate it.”(Judges 6:5)

The Good Guys: Moses (Aaron, Hur), Joshua, Israeli Fighters

Joshua …

Fighting men of Israel …

The issue here is probably trying to find ENOUGH men who would be QUALIFIED to fight!

The Plan …

“Joshua, you go out with selected men and fight, and I’ll go up on a hilltop with the staff of God of God in my hand.”

It’s not a complex plan, it’s just an unashamedly dependent plan!

… THE BATTLE’S OUTCOME: Israel Prevailed (10-11, 12b, 13)

“Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought against Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed … Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set … so Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.” ” (Ex. 17:10-11, 12b, 13)

… SUPPORTING ROLES: Aaron and Hur (12)

“But Moses’ hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set.” (Ex. 17:12)

… POSTLUDE: After-Battle Events (14-16)

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.’ Moses built an altar and named it The Lord is My Banner; and he said, ‘The Lord has sworn; the Lord will have war against Amalek from generation to generation.’” (Exodus 17:14-16)

Memorial Book …

Memorial Altar …

SIGNIFICANT LESSONS FROM THE BATTLE OF REPHIDIM …God wants …

A People of Impact …

“… you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, aholy nation, a people for God’s own possession, (to what end) so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (I Peter 2:9-10)

“Hoshea – Deliverer” to “Joshua – Jehovah Saved” (See Numbers 13:16)

“a staff” to “this staff” to “the staff of God” (Cp. Exodus 4:2, 4:17, 4:20)

Moses staff, a tool of his trade, something very ordinary, became extraordinary –

becauseit was wielded in his hands but empowered by God’s hand!

A People of Prayer …

“Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You for help,when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.” (Ps. 28:2)

“As soon as I go out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the Lord …” (Ex. 9:29)

A People of the Book …

“Flesh” withers but the Word of the Lord endures forever(I Peter 23-25)

We live by everything that comes out of the mouth of the Lord (Deut. 8:3)

A people of Dependent Spirit …

Memorial Altar “Jehovah Nissi – The Lord Is My Banner/Pole”

A People of Shared Life and Ministry …

“steady” – Can mean “firm, set”, but usually has moral quality, “faithfulness”

Application – God wants His people to be: A People of Impact, a People of the Book, a People of Prayer, and People of Dependence Upon God, and a People Of Shared Life and Ministry!

How am I doing? How are you doing?