[5] And the LORD said unto
Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel;
and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and
go. [6] Behold, I will stand before
thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there
shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so
in the sight of the elders of Israel. [7]
And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the
chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying,
Is the LORD among us, or not?
Go on before the people - Though they spake of stoning
him. He must take his rod with him, not to summon some plague to chastise
them, but to fetch water for their supply. O the wonderful patience and
forbearance of God towards provoking sinners! He maintains those that are
at war with him, and reaches out the hand of his bounty to those that lift
up the heel against him. If God had only shewed Moses a fountain of water
in the wilderness, as he did to Hagar, not far from hence, Genesis 21:19,
that had been a great favour; but that he might shew hispower as well as
his pity, and make it a miracle of mercy, he gave them water out of a rock.
He directed Moses whither to go, appointed him to take of the elders of
Israel with him, to be witnesses of what was done, ordered him to smite
the rock, which he did, and immediately water came out of it in great abundance,
which ran throughout the camp in streams and rivers, Psalms 78:15,16, and
followed them wherever they went in that wilderness: God shewed his care
of his people in giving them water when they wanted it; his own power in
fetching it out of a rock, and put an honour upon Moses in appointing the
water to flow out upon his smiting of the rock. This fair water that came
out of the rock is called honey and oil, Deuteronomy 32:13, because the
people's thirst made it doubly pleasant; coming when they were in extreme
want. It is probable that the people digged canals for the conveyance of
it, and pools for the reception of it. Let this direct us to live in a
dependance,
-
Upon God's providence even in the greatest straits and difficulties;
-
And upon Christ's grace; that rock was Christ, 10:4.The graces
and comforts of the Spirit are compared to rivers of living waters, 7:38,39
4:14. These flow from Christ. And nothing will supply the needs and satisfy
the desires of a soul but water out of this rock. A new name was upon this
occasion given to the place, preserving the remembrance of their murmuring,
Massah - Temptation, because they tempted God, Meribah - Strife, because
they chide with Moses.
[8] Then came Amalek, and fought
with Israel in Rephidim.
Then Amalek came and fought with Israel - The Amalekites
were the posterity of Esau, who hated Jacob because of the birth - right
and blessing. They did not boldly front them as a generous enemy, but without
any provocation given, basely fell upon their rear, and smote them that
were faint and feeble.
[9] And Moses said unto Joshua,
Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand
on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.
I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God
in my land - See how God qualifies his people for, and calls them to various
services for the good of his church; Joshua fights, Moses prays, and both
minister to Israel. This rod Moses held up, not so much to Israel as to
animate them; as to God by way of appeal to him; Is not the battle the
Lord's? Is not he able to help, and engaged to help? Witness this rod!
Moses was not only a standard - bearer, but an intercessor, pleading with
God for success and victory.
[10] So Joshua did as Moses
had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went
up to the top of the hill.
Hur is supposed to have been the husband of Miriam.
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