Exodus Chapter 17

Exodus

 Chapter 

17

1. From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.

(Exodus chapter 17 verse 1)

In order to view the route please click on the following link:

From Wilderness of Sin to-Rephidim

According to the author of this chapter Mr. Deevain Ajit Pawar:

"Following God's orders is good but sometimes it is not easy as in the process we sometimes face difficulties and hardships that we were not prepared for.However instead of complaining we are to thank God for such changes in our original plans, because ultimately God knows what is best for us."

At times we may think we are walking in God's ways, but in reality we may be following God to satisfy our personal agenda maybe just to feel good, or maybe to leave a good impression on others. In such cases we can keep on following Him but we will never make an experience of Him. We will never find water to drink because our intentions are not genuine. Many of the chosen people of God, were not aware what they were in for when they decided to follow Moses in the wilderness. Some of us Christians also did not have an idea of what it was like to follow Jesus, some persisted, others grumbled and went on their way joining other churches cults, or religions.

2. The people quarrelled with Moses, and said: Give us water, to drink." Moses said to them, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD? 3. But the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses and said, Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children, and livestock with thirst?

(Exodus chapter 17 verses 2 to 3)

When we face difficulty we have the habit of blaming the person or source that we think is causing all our misery and sorrow. If we are still not satisfied we end up placing the blame on God. Moreover when deep in our sorrow we may even threaten God with not going to Church any more or even that we will no longer keep on praying. This is very childhood behaviour and attitude which as in the case of the people of God were still very immature in their relationship with God.

4. So Moses cried out to the LORD,  "What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me. 5. The LORD said to Moses, "Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you: take in thy hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it so that the people may drink. " Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel

(Exodus chapter 17 verses 4 to 6)

On reflecting God does not want us to be harmed, however He is ready to be harmed for our sake. When Moses told God that the people where ready to stone him if he did not give them water, God decided to place himself in front of the rock. Therefore on giving Moses the go ahead to hit the rock, in reality Moses was hitting God, from which flow fountains of living water. God was situated between Moses and the rock therefore it was God who was struck and not the rock. God was ready to be beaten in order to give his people life given water. At the time of His passion God gave us His body and soul to nourish both our body and our soul.

7. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because of the Israelites quarrelled and tested the LORD, saying: "Is the LORD among us or not?"

(Exodus chapter 17 verse 7)

According to the author of this chapter with whom I entirely agree at some point in our life we all ask the fatal question in relation to whether God was with us or not during our moment of crisis. During such moments in the life of the world such as the tragic event of the twin towers and the beheading of our brothers and sisters in Iraq one may ask where is God in this situation? Although we may not have the answer at the time in question, when the time is proper God will reveal to us His role in such circumstances and maybe even His reasons for permitting such things to happen. However what is sure enough is that God never gives us situations to experience that are beyond our capacity. Moreover, if it happens to be beyond our capacity god will give us the skills to cope with such a situation. God is love and all that He does he does because He loves us. 

8. Then Amalek came, and fought with Israel at Rephidim. 9. Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some men for us and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill, with the staff of God in my hand."

(Exodus chapter 17 verses 8 to 9)

Whenever facing a problem instead of acting according to our own wishes we are to consult God and ask Him for his help. The next important step is to wait for his reply so that our decisions are made on a healthy foundation. During such crisis we face many threats such as Amalek who try to take away our source of happiness and security, however God will fight for us every every time by permitting only what is good for us to take place.

10. So Joshua did as Moses told him, and he fought with Amalek; while Moses, Aaron, and Hur, went up on top of the hill.

(Exodus chapter 17 verse 10)

Just as Joshua fought with Amalek without any hesitation, after being assured by God, when we face problems God tell us not to give up or be afraid because He is with us as long as we are walking in His ways and not simply according to our sinful nature to satisfy our personal agenda that in turn may be of harm to others or ourselves.
   

11. Whenever Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed; and whenever he lowered his hand,  Amalek prevailed.

(Exodus chapter 17 verse 11)

According to the author of this chapter the moment we let God take control of our lives our quality of life improves. We become fully human and fully alive, because the Holy Spirit of God starts dwelling in us with a greater intensity. We discover many positive things about ourselves because God makes us positive people, however when we surrender ourselves to evil and its negative practices, we sink low down in our sins and start living a life of sin and sadness.

12. But Moses’s hands grew weary: so they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat on it: Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; so his hands were steady until the sun set. 13. And Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the sword.

(Exodus chapter 17 verses 12 to 13)

In  life we are not alone, during times of tribulation God is always with us and always is of support to us in the handling or coping  with our problems and difficulties. God sends many people in our lives who have helped us to hold our hands high so that we overcome our problems. If we go back in time we can recall the memories of such people. These people were all gifts given to us by God  

14. Then the LORD said to Moses: "Write this as a reminder in a book, and recite it in the hearing of Joshua : I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven" 15. And Moses built an altar; and called it The Lord is my banner.  16. He said, "A hand upon the banner of the Lord! The LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation."

(Exodus chapter 17 from verse 14 to verse 16)

From generation to generation God has always been with us just as he had been with Abraham Isaac Jacob Joseph Moses and those after them up to this very day. He has never stopped being of support to us empowering us with His Holy Word that gives us a new meaning to life. We are therefore to be grateful to God for without Him and His holy words we would be no better than savage beasts. God and His word gives us new dignity. By means of the Holy Spirit who works by means of the Roman Catholic Church, and other people in the Church we will keep on fighting the forces of evil, both within us and beyond us so that God will be all in all, the first one and only over all and above all. The author of this chapter Mr. Devain Ajit Pawar chose to end this chapter with the following prayer:

I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer,

 God you have been so kind to us. Moreover you never stop showering us with blessings. You give us people who loves us much more than we deserve. Thank you God for your kindness and compassionate love. You have always been a positive impact in my life. 

Thank You God J