We’re spending considerable time surveying the people of Israel and their journey from slavery in Egypt to the land promised to their far away grandfather, Abraham, for the simple reason that we are in many ways just like them. The plow and the shovel may be improved upon in order to efficiently accomplish a task, but you can’t improve upon the state of mankind–the need of man remains the same…salvation from himself–his sin and evil heart. We forget just like the Israelites forgot. And so, after a journey through the wilderness the people are thirsty–and we can’t blame them. It’s hot, it’s long, and it’s a journey of depending upon God for all of their physical needs. But, after seeing God provide water, manna, and meat, how will they respond to their lack of water again…and even more so, their protection?
“Then all the congregation of the sons of Israel journeyed by stages from the wilderness of Sin, according to the command of the Lord, and camped at Rephidim, and there was no water for the people to drink…the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water that we may drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” “…why, now, have you brought us up from Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”
Exodus 17:1-3 (abbreviated)
God provided water–once again for His people–and Moses named the place, Massah (which means quarrel) and Meribah (which means test), because of the quarrel of the sons of Israel, and because they tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us, or not?” God’s presence is questioned, and then right after this miracle the Israelites are attacked by the people group that sprung from Esau–the Amalekites. As you recall, Esau was the grandson of Abraham, and was also the oldest son of Isaac. Esau sold his birthright and was slighted out of the blessing from Isaac; however, he continued down his own path, and as we shall see the biblical story continues to unfold the reality of broken people navigating in a broken world.
The Amalekites fought hard against Israel, and Moses instructed Joshua to meet them on the battlefield while he went up with Aaron and Hur to a hill in order to raise his hands up above the conflict. And then a most peculiar thing happened…
“So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed.”
Exodus 17:11
The Israelites defeated the Amalekites, and we later find out–after Moses built an altar to the Lord and named it The Lord is My Banner–that their victory was a result of God’s standard over them. As Moses, who is the mediator of the Sinai covenant between God and Israel, stood with his hands lifted above the battlefield, they won, and as his hands dropped they lost. Moses represented to the people of Israel the reality that God is their banner or standard. In other words, after Israel repeatedly had their physical provision met by God they would now need to see that their military provision will come by Him as well. Israel, God’s people, would have to learn very quickly that God’s supply goes far beyond what they need for sustenance and satiation, but also protection. David’s son, Solomon, will later write about this reality…
“The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the Lord.”
Proverbs 21:31
So, how do we apply this to our lives today?
Another way to ask this is, “What is the ultimate battle that needs defeating?” The answer to that takes you back to the start–the garden. It was there where sin entered the world, and it was there where all of humanity from that moment on received the curse of sin. The evil that permeates every faculty of thought, of action, and of intent. There is not a day that goes by that the battle does not rage on in the lives of every person. We know this. We feel this. And we long for this battle to be over. We long to see the Banner of the Lord over us. And that’s how we apply this to our lives today. In the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son…to not only win the battle for us, but to be our Banner over us. We need this. We need to remember this everyday.
And as the biblical storyline continues to unfold, you’ll see more and more clearly why Christ Had to Die…the battle line was drawn, the Victor to the our side came, our indefatigable Warrior, Jesus is His Name…
May we rest in Him!
— February 3, 2017