Matt's Messages - Rescues at Rephidim

“Rescues at Rephidim”
Exodus 17:1-16

Now, it’s been a couple of weeks since we were together in the book of Exodus. We probably need to review.

In the book of Exodus so far, the people of Israel, the chosen, covenant people of God began the book oppressed. They were perceived as a threat to Egypt so they were enslaved and oppressed by Pharaoh. But God saw their oppression, heard their cries, and acted.

The LORD (capital LORD, YHWH) who remembered His covenant with Israel, raised up a deliverer, Moses. He delivered the deliverer from one Pharaoh through a crafty basket in the bulrushes. He called and equipped that deliverer at a burning, holy bush, and sent that deliverer back to another Pharaoh with this message, “The LORD, the God of Israel says, ‘Let my people go.’”

But Pharaoh said, “No!” And he also said, “Who is YHWH? Why should I obey Him? I don’t know YHWH! I haven’t even heard of Him.”

And so, God made Himself known. He went to war against Pharaoh. Creational warfare.

10 plagues of God’s creation serving as His weapons of war.

The last was the death of every firstborn son in Egypt. But Israel was spared. They were passed-over. And they were ordered to remember this in a yearly celebration called “the Passover.”

And the people of Israel were set free.

But then, Pharaoh changed his mind and chased after them. And it looked like they were trapped at the Red Sea. But you know what happened?

This week, Heather was reading Bible stories with the kids during their afternoon school time, and they came to a picture of the Red Sea parting.

And Andrew loudly proclaimed, “Red Sea Rescue!!!!”

That’s right! Israel safely walked through (with walls of water on either side), but Egypt’s army was drowned by a divine tsunami. The Red Sea Rescue.

So far, the book of Exodus has been about a great rescue by a great God.

And the same is true on the other side of the Red Sea.

First, they worshiped their Rescuer. They sang, “YHWH is a warrior. YHWH is His name!”

And then...they grumbled. Three days into the desert, they ran out of water...and out of faith.

They grumbled. When the water they found was bitter, they grumbled. But God was gracious and made it sweet.

When they didn’t have any food, they grumbled. But God was so gracious and provided bread from heaven (called manna) and quail to eat.

The Bible says that God was testing them. But He was so gracious as He did.

God continues to rescue His people from the troubles they are encountering as they march towards Mount Sinai.

And here, in chapter 17, we have two more rescues. They both happen in a place called Rephidim. “Rescues at Rephidim.”

Rephidim was on the way to Mount Sinai (also called Horeb).

It appears to have been located in the southern region of the Sinai peninsula on the outskirts of the area where Mount Sinai itself was located. The whole region appears to have been also called Horeb.

So, the people of Israel are there. They are almost to the place where God told Moses (way back in chapter 3) that they would come and worship Him.

But they are in trouble again. They can find no water to drink.

Let’s pray together. And then, as we read about these two rescues, I want to point out what these two rescues say about the LORD. And I want to talk about what that might mean for our lives today. Let’s pray.



Chapter 17, verse 1.

“The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin [that’s not rebellion, that’s the region that Sinai is in], traveling from place to place as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.” Stop there for a second.

Just like we said two weeks ago, before we judge Israel, we have to put ourselves in their shoes. I assume that everyone here had something to drink already this morning. If not, or if you are really thirsty, you can get up and go out to foyer to that snazzy new water-fountain out there and get one. Did you notice that Deacons put up a cup-dispenser out there so that if it’s hard for you to bend down, you don’t have to, to get a drink of nice, cool, refreshing water? Thirsty yet?

Two million Israelites in the desert. No water to drink.

What would you do?

How did they get into this predicament? Whose fault is it that they are here with no water? What does v.1 say?

“The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the LORD commanded.”

God has got them into this situation. And He’s used Moses to do it.

And the people got feisty. V.2

“So they quarreled with Moses and said, ‘Give us water to drink.’ Moses replied, ‘Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the LORD to the test?’”

This word “quarrel” is a stronger word than “grumble.” I’m sure that they were doing both. But this “quarreling” is even more rebellious, even more contentious. They got to fighting with Moses. There is a power-struggle going on.

And Moses recognizes it for what it is. It is “testing the LORD.”

Back in chapter 15, the Bible says that God was testing Israel. But here, Israel tries to test YHWH. Not a good idea. V.3 They don’t listen.

“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?’”

That’s a serious accusation. It looks like there is going to be a rebellion and an attempt to overthrow the leadership. They are in big trouble. V.4

“Then Moses cried out to the LORD, ‘What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.’”

You can always tell when someone is struggling with someone else. Often they use those words, “these people” or “those people” instead of “my people” or “our people.” “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.”

And God wiped them out from the face of the earth. Right?

No.

He rescued them. Dramatically. Powerfully. Graciously. Miraculously. Publically. V.5

“The LORD answered Moses, ‘Walk on ahead of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel [as witnesses?] and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will stand there before you [personally!] 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.”

Wow!

God promises to be present at this rock at Horeb. He commands Moses to strike that rock (there is a chance here (some commentators think) that Moses has to actually go through the LORD to strike the rock–that would be quite the symbolism if it’s there, but I’m now quite sure it is). Either way, Moses is to smack this rock-face with the staff (that struck the Nile and brought the plagues) in the sight of the elders. And God would bring water out of the rock.

And Moses did. And God did. Wow!

Now, Exodus doesn’t make much of the water in this story. But the rest of the Old Testament does. The Old Testament celebrates this is as God’s dramatic, powerful, miraculous display of His grace to Israel.

Psalm 78, verses 15& 16 says, “[God] split the rocks in the desert and gave them water as abundant as the seas; he brought streams out of a rocky crag and made water flow down like rivers.”

What a sight that would be! Psalm 105, Psalm 114 and Isaiah 48 sing about it in similar ways.

“He split the rocks in the desert and gave them water as abundant as the seas; he brought streams out of a rocky crag and made water flow down like rivers.” Rescue at Rephidim.

#1. Water from the Rock.

Lots of water. Seas and streams in the poetry versions! Enough water to quench two million thirsts!

But that’s not the lesson that Exodus leaves us with. Exodus doesn’t seem to emphasize the rescue. Exodus emphasizes the rebellion, the contentiousness, the quarreling, the testing of God.

Moses didn’t name this place on this occasion, “YHWH provided the water from the rock.” He called it (v.7)...

“And he called the place Massah [testing] and Meribah [rebellion] because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the LORD saying, ‘Is the LORD among us or not?’”

That’s what Exodus wants to get out of this story.

“Is the LORD among us or not?” Well? ...

Of course He is!

THE LORD IS AMONG YOU.

Where is your memory? 10 plagues? Passed-Over? Red Sea Rescue? Bitter water becomes sweet? Manna every morning? Pillar of cloud by day and fire by night?

Of course, the LORD is among you!

But you are acting like He is not. And that’s what it means to test Him.

To test Him means to demand that the LORD obey us. It means that we want Him to pass some test that we determine before we will trust Him or worship Him or serve Him.

But God will not allow us to judge Him. He is God, and there is no other.

Of course, He is among you.

SO, TRUST HIM, DON’T TEST HIM.

The rest of the Old Testament (and the New!) brings out this lesson from Massah and Meribah. We read about it this morning the “Worship in Singing” time.

Psalm 95, verse 7. “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me, though they had seen what I did.”

Hebrews chapter 3 quotes this same passage: “...do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did.”

Trust Him, Don’t Test Him! Of course, He is among you.

Do you see how this relates to our lives today?

So often, we find ourselves asking the same question of God. “Is He among us or not?

We are hurting. We are in pain. We are hungry or thirsty (so to speak).

We have health trouble. We have relational difficulties. We have financial problems. We have family problems. We are depressed.

And we say, “Is God here or not?”

And we don’t remember what God has already done. And we put Him to the test.

We say, “Perform again God, and then I’ll trust you.” We say, “What have you done for me lately?”

We begin to act like He is not present. And that puts Him to the test. We become like Israel.

Are you Massah and Meribah today?

Today, if you hear his voice [and you’re hearing it in God’s Word today], don’t harden your heart. Trust Him, don’t test Him. Of course, He is among you.

How do I know? Because Jesus is Your Rock.

Like most stories in the Old Testament, this story points forward to the Cross of Christ. In 1 Corinthians chapter 10, Paul is making another point, but he says this about our passage: “[Our forefathers] drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.”

Now, I’m not sure all of what that means. But I do think it means, at least, that the water from the rock points to the grace of God that flows to us from Jesus Christ being struck for us. “That rock was Christ.”

And Jesus is your rock.

He is the source of life-giving water because He was struck for us.

Jesus said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” (John 7:37-38)

If you belong to Jesus Christ, He is Your Rock. And He is among you flowing into your life the grace you need. Don’t harden your heart. Don’t test Him. Trust Him.

Rescue #2. Victory Over Amalek. V.8

“The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.” Stop there for a second.

The Amalekites were distant cousins of the Israelites. They were descendants of Esau just as the Israelites were descendants of Jacob. And here they have the distinction of being the first group (though not the last!) to attack Israel after Israel had escaped from Egypt.

Deuteronomy tells us that they attacked Israel from the rear and tried to pick off those who were weak and infirm and tired from all this journeying. Very cowardly.

But this time, Moses knows what to do. Return fire! V.9

“Moses said to Joshua [first mention in the Bible of this young man who is Moses’ assistant], ‘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 in my hands.’”

That staff sure has come in handy! Good thing God reminded him to take it with Him back at the burning bush! V.10

“So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur [first mention of Hur in the Bible. Hur was a he. And he was probably the grandfather of the artist Bezalel who designed the tabernacle. Moses, Aaron and Hur] went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.”

Wow. This is a strange story. I’ve known it since I was a boy, but that doesn’t make it any less mysterious to me now. Why did God do it this way? Why didn’t He just wipe out the Amalekites like He did the Egyptians? Why this raising hands thing? Why does Joshua have to fight now?

The Bible doesn’t say why. It just says that it happened this way. And we have to accept that.

But I do think (as most Jewish and Christian commentators have down through the ages) that this lifting up of the staff was a kind of prayer.

It was a symbol of drawing upon the power of God. Exodus power. The same power that was unleashed when Moses lifted this staff above the Red Sea.

As Moses held his hands up, Joshua and the army were winning. But whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites (in the words of Peter Enns) “got the upper hand.” Aaron and Hur to the rescue! V.12

“When Moses' hands 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. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.”

A beautiful picture of teamwork. Why it’s right here in the Bible, I’m not sure. Perhaps as a foreshadowing of the teamwork to be described in the very chapter. I don’t know.

But I do know that Moses, Aaron, Hur, and Joshua didn’t take the credit for their victory over Amalek. They recognized Who had really delivered another rescue here at Rephidim–the LORD. V.14

“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.’”

Moses recognizes Who rescued Israel at Rephidim. The LORD did.

He writes it down and makes sure that Joshua hears about it so that he can pass it on.

He builds and altar at Rephidim on the outskirts of Horeb so that whenever they see it they remember what the LORD had done.

And Moses called that altar, “The LORD is my Banner.” And that’s point #2:

THE LORD IS YOUR BANNER.

That means that God’s power is on display over you.
It means that the LORD has fought for you.
The LORD is fighting for you.

The LORD is your banner.

It’s the same theme we saw at the worship service on this side of the Red Sea. The divine warrior theme. The LORD is a warrior. YHWH is His name.

YHWH is your banner.

He has fought for you and won. And He is still fighting for you.

He continued to fight for Israel. He promises here to not stop until the memory of Amalek was blotted out from under heaven. In other words, until they ain’t no more. That’s part of the story from here all the way through to 2 Samuel (and maybe the book of Esther!), but God did it.

The LORD is a warrior. He is fighter. And He jealously takes care of His own.

The LORD is your banner.

Exodus power is at work in your life.

Therefore, TRUST HIM AND LIFT UP YOUR HANDS TO HIS THRONE.

Now, your version might have something different in v.16 than the NIV. There is a textual question that makes this one a difficult verse to translate. It may be that the LORD is swearing here by His throne or by His banner. It may be that hands have been lifted against (as in Amalekite hands) God’s throne or banner. But I think the NIV has it right and it makes sense of the context with Moses lifting up his hands and Aaron and Hur helping him, to see this as a reminder of why the LORD is such a banner–because they lifted up their hands in prayer and asked God to come to their aid–and He did.

“The LORD is my Banner.” He said “For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD.”

This is how to honor your Banner. Trust Him and lift your hands in trusting prayer to Him.

He is fighting for you. Fight for Him. Trust Him. Pray.

Moses could have given up praying. He could have thrown in the towel and Israel lost. But Moses knew that God was trustworthy. He was worth lifting your hands to His throne. And He did. And the LORD was His Banner.

Where are you at in your prayer life?

Do you pray?
Do you pray out loud? A lot of people, I think, pray in their heads, and that’s okay, but I think prayer becomes much more real when we get away by ourselves and verbalize our calling out to the throne.
Do you pray with the rest of your body? Moses used his hands. Do you? Do you use your legs? Do you ever kneel? Do you get on your face? Do you prayer-walk?Do you pray with someone else? Do you pray with your spouse or roommate or best friend?
Do you pray with your kids or your parents?
Do you pray with your co-workers?
Do you pray at Prayer Meeting?
Do you pray when you are in trouble?
Do you pray when things are going well?

Prayer, when it is authentic, is an expression of faith, a expression of trust.

It is trusting God and taking our hearts and our requests to Him and trusting Him with them. Trusting Him to fight for us. To be our banner.

Trust Him and lift up your hands to His throne.

He will answer. How do I know?

Because Jesus is your Banner.

In Isaiah chapter 11, God says, “In that day [the coming of the Messiah] the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious....He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth.”

If you belong to Jesus Christ, He is your banner. Whether you are Jew or Gentile. He is the display of God’s power for you. He waves over your life as the divine warrior who has rescued you, not just from the Amalekites but from your sin and from Satan.

If you belong to Jesus Christ, He is your banner.

If you don’t yet belong to Jesus Christ, He can become your banner today.

The Bible says that people will “rally to him.” He is calling you to rally to Him today. Jesus asks that you turn from your rebellion against Him and trust solely in what He has done at the Cross (in dying for your sins), and He will forgive you and enter your life and lead you through it. The Lord Jesus Christ will be your banner.

He has fought for you at the Cross and defeated your most powerfully enemies.

And now, He is fighting for you (if you belong to Him), and He calls you to trust Him and pray–to lift up holy hands towards His throne. He promises to act–not always as we expect or desire (don’t test Him!), but always as we truly need. Because the LORD is our banner.