EXODUS CHAPTER SEVENTEEN ------------------------ THE SMITTEN ROCK ---------------- 1) This chapter with the word "And," connecting it with the preceding chapter. So too, chapter 16 began with "And," connecting it with the verses at the end of chapter 15. a) At the close of 15 the children of Israel had come to Marah and could not drink because the waters were bitter. At once the people began to murmur against Moses in verse 24 of chapter 15. We remember that the Lord showed Moses a tree that when cast into the waters, made the waters sweet. And of course that tree pointed to the Lord Jesus Christ. b) Then in chapter 16 we see that the children of Israel do the same thing in the wilderness of sin, when they have no food. Of course the LORD feeds them with the bread from heaven, which they called manna, which again pointed to the Lord Jesus Christ. c) Then in chapter 17 we find that the children of Israel are brought by the LORD to a place, called Rephidim, that had no water. And they again began to murmur against Moses. Except this time it says, also, that they did CHIDE with Moses, demanding that he would give them water to drink. d) This connection between these events no doubt shows man's nature and the marvelous patience and infinite mercy of the One who had brought them out of the land of Egypt with such a mighty hand. He had the power to destroy them in a moment yet He suffered with them. e) The "ands" that connect these events may also connect the types together pointing to the same Messiah. f) This also shows us that the path of faith is a path of trials. Those who are led by God must expect to encounter that which is displeasing to the flesh. 2) The reason for their chiding: Chide means strive with words or physically, so they must have been angry with Moses. They certainly knew that the LORD could give them water in this place as easy as He had given them bread before. Their doubt was not in His ability. Their doubt was in His intentions. Notice verse 7, where Moses quotes the people and says, "because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?" This is our problem. When each new problem or situation arises we doubt whether the LORD is still with us. We do not dare doubt His ability. The more we walk in the flesh the more we would wonder whether the Lord is with us. But we know He is the God of GRACE! 3) Their chiding was more of a demand, notice the words of verse 2, where they said, "Give us water that we may drink." They knew that the LORD could and had seen so many miracles worked by God through the man Moses. They are saying, "Moses give us water. Do it again. Is the LORD still with us? Or are we going to die of thirst out here in the wilderness? Did you bring us out here to die of thirst?" Again their eyes are upon the situation and not on the LORD of the situation. It was the LORD who had brought them to this place. Notice the words of verse 1, "And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, ACCORDING TO THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD, and pitched in Rephidim..." 4) They tempted the LORD: Notice Moses said, "wherefore do you tempt the LORD?" (verse 2) The word tempt means to try or test. They tried his patience by once more chiding His servant. They called in question both His goodness and His faithfulness. His goodness: He had fed them and now He was going to watch them die. His faithfulness: He had left them and was no longer with them. 5) Moses' actions: "And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me." (verse 4). He did not chide back at the people, but rather "cried unto the LORD." In this way He pictured that "Blessed One" who would come after him. 1Pe 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously: Notice the intensity of his prayer to the LORD: "And Moses CRIED unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people?" "What shall I do" shows that he sees his own inability to cope with the situation, and his dependency on the One who could. 6) The Rock in Horeb: verses 5 and 6. The fact that this Old Testament type pointed to the Lord Jesus Christ is solidified by 1Co 10:1-4. 1Co 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. a) "The Rock" is one of the titles of Jehovah: De 32:15 But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered [with fatness]; then he forsook God [which] made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation. 2Sa 22:2 And he said, The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; Ps 95:1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. b) "The Rock" is a title for Christ. Isa 32:2 And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. { Speaking of Himself and not Peter } Ro 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 1Pe 2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, [even to them] which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. c) The Rock: 1) has strength and stability: compare Job 18:4 He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place? {Bildad speaking} Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 2) elevation: Notice in verse 6, "Behold, I will stand before thee there UPON the rock in Horeb." It was no small rock. It was elevated above men. So too, Christ is elevated high above men. He is called the "mighty God" in Isa 9:6. He is seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Heb 8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken [this is] the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; 3) The Rock was to be "smitten": Notice that the manna preceded the smitten rock. The Lord had to come from heaven as that bread of life before He could be smitten of God. The former speaks of the incarnation of Christ and the latter speaks of the crucifixion of Christ. Thus here is another reason for the "AND" of 17:1. a) The rock was to be smitten by the "rod" in the hand of Moses. SEE verse 5 and notice the words, "thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river..." It was the rod of judgement and Moses was God's representative when he smote the river in Egypt. Also we see that the LORD tells Moses that He will stand before thee UPON the rock that Moses is to smite. (vs 6) So, it was the rod of God's judgement that smote Christ. He was smitten of God. Isa 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. Pink says the fact that only the elders of Israel witnessed the smiting of the rock pointed to the governmental character of what took place. "Our Substitute being smitten by the rod of Divine justice, held in the hand of the Governor of the universe." (Pink) b) Out of the smitten rock flowed water. Water typifies the Holy Spirit and the word, which are always together. The Holy Spirit moved men to write words. He moves men to speak of Christ and not Himself. It was after Christ was smitten that He sent the Holy Spirit. Joh 7:37 In the last day, that great [day] of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet [given]; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) { Notice: They are to come to Christ and drink, but the experience is the receiving of the Holy Spirit. } The Holy Spirit is said to be "poured out" in Acts 2:18. Ac 2:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: c) The reason: His promise Ps 105:41 He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places [like] a river. 42 For he remembered his holy promise, [and] Abraham his servant. So the promise of salvation, through Christ, to His elect which thing was promised to them before the world began (Titus 1:1-2), was based upon the "everlasting covenant" spoken of in Hebrews 13:20. d) They all did drink: 1Co 10:4 And did ALL drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. ALL of Israel, those who were at Rephidim, not those back in Egypt, but ALL here did drink. Which shows that all of God's children do drink of this water. If this water points to the Holy Spirit then ALL of God's children do have the Spirit of Christ in them. Ro 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. { Question: Is it the Spirit of God, or the Spirit of Christ, or the Holy Spirit? } Ga 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Some teach that the reception of the Holy Spirit is a second work of grace. e) The occasion: The rock was smitten and the water given NOT when Israel was bowed down in worship, NOT when they were praising Him for His wonderful works and His goodness and mercy, BUT rather at a time of UNBELIEF. The giving of the water then was an act of His marvelous grace. f) the righteous basis: It was not until after the rock was smitten that the water flowed. The penalty must be paid first. It was not until the Saviour was smitten of God that the gospel went out to every creature. g) Numbers 20:7-12 How jealous God is with His types! Moses was commanded to just speak to the rock. Pink says that this occasion was some 40 years after the event in Ex 17. He says the Hebrew word for rock in Numbers 20 speaks of an elevated rock, which points to the Lord seated in heaven. The rod was Aaron's rod: See Nu 20:9 and Nu 17:10 So it was the priestly rod and not the rod of judgement. THE ROCK WAS NOT TO BE SMITTEN A SECOND TIME!!!! This would spoil the type. The fact that God allowed it and then told Moses that he would not enter into the promised land shows the seriousness of the second smite. Those who would crucify Christ afresh do put him to open shame. Heb 6:4 For [it is] impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put [him] to an open shame. Ro 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead DIETH NO MORE; death hath NO MORE dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin ONCE: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Heb 7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. This ONE TIME smiting points to the accomplishment of Christ's death. Those who can loose their salvation need more that a one time sacrifice. They need to crucify Christ afresh. They do not see His shed blood and the sacrifice of Himself at Calvary as accomplishing their salvation. Pink says that more than one man was slain because of his conduct which marred the types. AMALEK ------ Verses 8-16, Amalek: son of Eliphaz by his concubine Timnah, grandson of Esau, and progenitor of a tribe of people in southern Canaan Rephidim = "rests" or "stays" or "resting places" 1) a station of Israel in the wilderness between Egypt and Sinai The first 7 verses of this chapter dealt with the smitten rock and the water which flowed from it. How that smitten rock pointed to the smitten saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the water which flowed pointed to the Holy Spirit that indwells each and every believer who has been regenerated. So this is the occasion in which Amalek appears and fights with Israel. Then there is the order: First the smitten rock and the water followed by the fighting with Amalek. If the first pointed to something in type, then the second must point to something also. This is not to say that these things did not happen, but they did indeed. We must not spiritualize them away. They really happened, but they happened for a reason. 1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Ro 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Ga 4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he [who was] of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman [was] by promise. 24 Which things are an ALLEGORY: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. { allegory: to speak in a figure or in types } Notice that Amalek was the Grandson of Esau. Esau was born first and then Jacob. Jacob's name was changed to Israel which pointed to his conversion. Esau forever remained Esau. So Israel points to the new man and Esau points to the old man. It is interesting that sometimes the Holy Spirit uses the name Jacob and other times the name Israel. Mal 1:2 I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? [Was] not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, 3 And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness. Ro 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. Ps 5:5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. The LORD can only love us in the person of Jesus Christ. He loves us positionaly in Christ. This is how He could love us from before the foundation of the world. He told Jeremiah the prophet, "Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." (Jer 31:3) This verse shows us that he loved Jeremiah before he was drawn to Him and that he was actually drawn because of the love that He had toward Jeremiah, and that this love was an eternal love. He loved Jeremiah before he was regenerated in the person of His Son. But after regeneration he creates a NEW man that he can love practically. It is this new man that will spend eternity with God and His Son. But what of the old man? Was the old man changed into the new man? No he raised his ugly head almost immediately! Pink says, "But after the Holy Spirit comes to take up His abode within the believer, after a new and holy nature of His creating has been implanted, a strange conflict is experienced, something hitherto unknown. As we read in Gal. 5:17, 'The flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other.' ... But 'a change of heart' is nowhere spoken of in Scripture. God never changes anything. the old is set aside or destroyed, and something altogether new is created or introduced by Him. ... The Christian is one who has been 'born again,' and the new birth is neither the removal of anything from a man, nor the changing of anything within; but the impartation of something new to him. The new birth is the reception of a new nature: 'that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit' (Joh 3:6)" And John also said, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh." At regeneration a new divine nature is given to the believer. It is one that is created by the Holy Spirit with the Word of God being the "seed." 1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 1Jo 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. But the old corrupt nature remains until we are given a new resurrection body. That is our hope. For then "this corruptible must put on incorruption, ..." (1Co 15:53). Death still remains in us and the last enemy to be destroyed is death. But true eternal life is in us also and it shall never be destroyed. These two natures that are within every Christian have nothing in common and they are opposed to each other on every side. This is what is typically before us in this chapter. Amalek represents the old nature that makes war with the new nature. Remember after Isaac, the son of promise, entered into Abraham's house there was a conflict. Ge 21:9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. 10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, [even] with Isaac. Ga 4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him [that was born] after the Spirit, even so [it is] now. The more the new man is in us the more that this conflict will come from without, that is from the world. As we said about Jacob, that sometimes the Holy Spirit used the name Israel and other times the name Jacob. Thus showing the two natures within the man. Sometimes he walked by faith and other times by sight. It is interesting also that the Holy Spirit says that "Jacob" died, but "Israel" was embalmed. (Gen 49:33; 50:2). It was the new nature that was symbolically preserved. Scriptures concerning Amalek: Num 24:20 And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek [was] the first of the nations; but his latter end [shall be] that he perish for ever. De 25:17 Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt; 18 How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, [even] all [that were] feeble behind thee, when thou [wast] faint and weary; and he FEARED NOT GOD. Romans 3 tells us that there is none righteous, no not one; and that this same bunch does not seek after God nor is there any fear of God before their eyes. (Ro 3:10,11,&15) The Israelites had done no fighting in the house of bondage, nor were they called upon to fight with the Egyptians at the red Sea, for this would have marred the picture of sovereign and divine deliverance; but now that the Holy Spirit has been given in TYPE they are required to fight. Pink says that those tribes were always disputing over wells and that the Amalek's probably heard of this new well of water and came and attacked Israel for the new water. Thus the type is accurate again. It was because of the new water that was given that caused Amalek to attack. And it is also because of the new nature given that causes the old man to war against the new man. Ro 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 1Pe 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech [you] as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Col 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new [man], which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: The record of HOW Israel fought against Amalek: READ verses 9-13. Moses could not point to Christ because his hands got heavy and Christ would not have needed help. Joshua did not point to Christ because it was not a complete and overwhelming victory and destruction of Amalek, but Amalek was only discomforted here (vs 13). So what we see here are the provisions that God has given us to fight against the flesh. 1st, Notice that success was when Moses' hands were lifted up toward heaven. (See vs 11) Compare: Ps 28:2 Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle. 1Ti 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. 2nd, Moses hands grew heavy and he needed support. When his hands grew heavy, Amalek prevailed. (see vs 11 and 12). How accurate the type! We soon grow weary in prayer. Lu 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them [to this end], that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; As soon as we become weary and lose our spirit of reliance on God, then the flesh prevails. 3rd, Moses was not left to himself. Aaron which points to our great high priest in heaven. Pink says that "Hur" means light and so points to the spirit of God. We know that we have a mediator in heaven and that the Holy Spirit helps us in our prayers. Ro 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what [is] the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God. 4th, The use of the "sword" (vs 13). The sword no doubt points to the Word of God. Heb 4:12 For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Re 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance [was] as the sun shineth in his strength. It is also the word of God that keeps us from sinning against God. Ps 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 5th, Amalek was only "discomforted" (vs 13) and that he would make "war with Amalek from generation to generation" (vs 16), but that He "will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven" (vs 14). So the old nature remains with us to war against the spirit, but one day it will be utterly put out of remembrance.