water in the wilderness, as he did Hagar not far from hence, (Gen. 21. 19.) that had been a great favour; but, that he might show his power as well as his pity, and make it a miracle if mercy, he gave them water out of a rock. He directed Moses whither to go, and appointed him to take of the elders of Israel with him, to be witnesses of what was done, that they might themselves be satisfied, and might satisfy others, of the certainty of God's presence with them; he promised to meet him there in the cloud of glory, (to encourage him,) and ordered him to smite the rock: Moses obeyed, and immediately water came out of the rock in great abundance, which ran throughout the camp in streams and rivers, (Ps. 78. 15, 16.) and followed them wherever they went in that wilderness: it is called a fountain of waters, Ps. 114.8. God showed the care he took of his people, in giving them water when they wanted it; he showed his power, in fetching the water out of a rock; and he 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, (Deut. 32. 13.), because the people's thirst made it doubly pleasant; coming when they were in extreme want, it was like honey and oil to them. It is probable the people digged canals for the conveyance of it, and pools for the reception of it, in like manner as, long afterward, passing through the valley of Baca, they made it a well, Ps. 84. 6. Numb. 21. 18. Let this direct us to live in a dependence, 1. Upon God's providence, even in the greatest straits and difficulties. God can open fountains for our supply, where we least expect them, waters in the wilderness, (Isa. 43. 20.) because he makes a way in the wilderness, v. 19. Those who, in this wilderness, keep to God's way, may trust him to provide for them. While we follow the pillar of cloud and fire, surely goodness and mercy shall follow us, like the water out of the rock. 2. Upon Christ's grace; that Rock was Christ, 1 Cor. 10. 4. The graces and comforts of the Spirit are compared to rivers of living water, John, 7. 38, 39.—4. 14. These flow from Christ, who is the Rock smitten by the law of Moses, for he was made under the law. Nothing will supply the needs, and satisfy the desires, of a soul, but water out of the rock, this fountain opened. The pleasures of sense are puddle-water; spiritual delights are rock-water, so pure, so clear, so refreshing; rivers of pleasure.
V. A new name was, upon this occasion, given to the place, preserving the remembrance, not of the mercy of their supply, (the water that followed them was sufficient to do that,) but of the sin of their murmuring, Massah, Temptation, because they tempted God, Meribah, Strife, because they chid with Moses, v. 7. There was thus a remembrance kept of sin, both for the disgrace of the sinners themselves, (sin leaves a blot upon the name,) and for warning to their seed to take heed of sinning after the similitude of their transgression.
8. Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 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. 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. 11. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12. But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat thereon: and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. 14. And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua; for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. 15. And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it JEHOVAH-nissi. 16. For he said, Because the Lord hath sworn, that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.
We have here the story of the war with Amalek, which, we may suppose, was the first that was recorded in the book of the wars of the Lord, Numb. 21. 14. Amalek was the first ofthe nations that Israel fought with, Numb. 24. 20. Observe,
I. Amalek's attempt; they came out, and fought with Israel, v. 8. The Amalekites were the posterity of Esau, who hated Jacob because of the birthright and blessing, and this was an effort of the hereditary enmity; a malice that ran in the blood, and perhaps was now exasperated, by the working of the promise towards an accomplishment. Consider this, 1. As Israel's affliction; they had been quarrelling with Moses, (v. 2.) and now God sends Amalekites to quarrel with them: wars abroad are the just punishment of strifes and discontents at home. 2. As Amalek's sin; so it is reckoned, Deut. 25. 17, 18. They did not boldly front them, as a generous enemy, but, without any provocation given by Israel, or challenge given to them, basely fell upon their rear, and smote those that were faint and feeble, and could neither make resistance, nor escape; herein they bade defiance to that Power which had so lately ruined the Egyptians; but in vain did they attack a camp guarded and victualled by miracles; verily they knew not what they did.
II. Israel's engagement with Amalek, in their own necessary defence against the aggressors; and there,
1. The post assigned to Joshua, of whom this is the first mention: he is nominated commander in chief in this expedition, that he might be trained up to the services he was designed for, after the death Of Moses, and be a man of war from his youth. He is ordered to draw out a detachment of choice men from the thousands of Israel, and to drive back the Amalekites, v. 9. When the Egyptians pursued them, Israel must stand still, and see what God would do; but now it was, required that they should bestir themselves. Note, God is to be trusted in the use of means.
2. The post assumed by Moses, (v. 9.) I will stand on the top of the hill, with the rod of God in my hand. 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. Moses went up to the top of the hill, and placed himself, probably, so as to be seen by Israel; there he held up the rod of God in his hand; that wonder-working rod which had summoned the plagues of Egypt, and under which Israel passed
