Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

On the fifteenth day of the second month after departing from Egypt, they left Elim. There was still a pillar of cloud by day leading them and a pillar of fire by night. They were going where God wanted, at His pace, and stopping where He said. He was totally responsible for their route, their timetable, and the resources they’d need along the way.

Naturally, the Israelites complained about Moses. Why did he bring us out here? We had POTS of meat in Egypt and PLENTY of bread. He brought us here to kill us all with hunger.

This was stupid. First, it wasn’t Moses leading them. Second, if death was the goal, keeping them in Egypt would have been better (not just the plagues but the horrors of slavery). Third, a supernatural tower of cloud and of fire travelled around with them. How could they forget God’s goodness when there was a VISIBLE manifestation? The lesson is that heart knowledge and heart belief will trump senses and feelings every time. If you don’t have a revelation in your soul, your body will NOT remember God’s goodness.

The Lord had a provision for the people. Bread from heaven. It was white and small like coriander seed. Every day for five days they would go collect just what they needed for that day (it could be baked or boiled). They were NOT to take more than they needed OR try to keep it overnight. This was to be a DAILY provision. On the sixth day, twice as much manna would appear. They were to take twice as much and keep it over to the seventh day – that day there would be no Manna so that they could have a day of resting with God (eating, but not having to gather). Each day when the sun rose high (noon, I suppose), whatever hadn’t been gathered evaporated. No muss, no fuss. Additionally, they would get meat in the evening when quails would come and cover the camp. So they complained about meat and nothing happened to them – this was before the Law.

First day comes. There’s the manna. Most did fine, but some left part until the morning – it bred worms and STANK. Moses was ticked. Come day six, they got twice as much and were to get enough for two days. But come the seventh? Some went out to gather and there was nothing. Moses was again, not happy. Neither was God. His question: how long would His commandments and instructions not be followed? (Spoiler: it would be awhile) This food is what they’d eat until they entered the Land of Promise. God told Moses to take a measure of it and put it into a pot as a memorial for generations of God’s daily provision. First, that’s supernatural preservation of something that normally didn’t last. Second, it is recorded in Hebrews 9:4 that the pot was in the Holy of Holies in the Temple, but it was not kept in the Ark itself (1 Kings 8:9).

They travelled again and got to Rephidim, but there was no water there. This region gets a VERY small amount of water annually. The people? They complained to Moses. Did he bring them here to kill them with thirst? Is God even WITH us? (Noticing a theme?) Moses went to God and cried out ‘What am I gonna do with these people?’ Notice he had ZERO disbelief about water. He was totally trusting God for the provision they needed. His issue was the people. God told him to take the Rod of God, the elders, and go hit a rock. So he did. Water flowed. There’s a pretty large rock out there in the desert that’s split top to bottom and shows evidence of a LOT of water flowing through it. There’s also a lot of evidence a large body of water lay just down from that place. Interesting, huh? There’s no evidence of water ANYWHERE else around there.

This was symbolic of what Jesus did as well. Jesus is the water of life (John 4:10-14; 7:38). He was struck with a spear and water flowed – giving us life through His sacrifice (John 19:34). He died once. He had no need to be struck a second time (Romans 10:6-13). Jesus was sacrificed only once (Hebrews 9:25-28). (We’ll need to remember this for later in their journey)

Next, the Amalekites came to play. They were descendants of Esau. We’re told in Deuteronomy 25:17-19 that they didn’t just attack out of nowhere. They attacked the REAR of the camp where the feeble were. The weakest and most tired people. Moses told Joshua to pick men and attack them back. The next day Moses would be on a hill overlooking the valley with the Rod of God in his hand. Joshua did and attacked. Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up the hill. Moses held out the staff and the battle went well for the Israelites. But staves are heavy, you know? Moses was pretty fit and functional, but he was human. He got tired. His arm came down. As it did, the battle turned. Aaron and Hur got Moses a rock and told him to park it. They raised his arms for him and held them up. And that is how they sat – Moses being helped in his burden – until sunset. They drove off the Amalekites. Notice it ONLY worked when Moses was cooperating with God. God works through us, not independently – it is how HE chose to work (we have dominion, Genesis 1:26-27).

“And Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword” (Exodus 17:13)

Later, God told Moses to write it down as a memorial and also to write that He would utterly wipe out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven – and Moses was to recite it in the hearing of Joshua. Moses made an altar and named it Yehovah Nissi which is often translated ‘The Lord is My Banner’. There is nuance in Hebrew where it CAN mean a flag, sign, or an ensign; but it means to carry, lift, and raise. It can also be translated ‘Yahweh is the upward motion that lifts and carries me’.

Now we meet up with Moses’ father-in-law who is bringing back Moses’ wife Zipporah and his two sons, Gershom and Eliezer. This father-in-law has more than one name. Common practise. People were often named their calling at given points of their life. When we first meet him (Exodus 2:16-17) he is Reuel or ‘associate with God’ and he is named a priest. Here we meet him as Jethro or ‘his excellence’ and he gives Moses excellent advice (which Moses adopts after consulting God). Moses and Jethro catch up, Moses tells all, and Jethro IMMEDIATELY responds with thanksgiving and praise. He recognises God’s hand, offers sacrifice, and praises God for the miracles – something the people who witnessed.them had yet to do. Then day dawns and Jethro is shocked.

Moses was sitting down to judge for the people – the disagreements they had with one another that inevitably grow up between people. As New Covenant believers, we have Holy Spirit dwelling in us and the supernatural ability to use His Fruit – Galatians 5:22-23 – to love one another as Jesus loved us. Even then there can be bumps because we let go of His promises. In Moses’ day, they needed judges and he was IT. There were three million Israelites. Imagine the lines!

Jethro chastises Moses. Asked what Moses was doing to these people? It also wasn’t healthy for Moses. It would wear everyone down,  not nip things in the bud, and generate more problems. He felt Moses inquiring of the Lord for judgment was good,  but not for everything. Some things were common sense solutions using the minds and reason God gave us. He suggested leaders over 10s, then 50s of the 10s, then 100s of the 50s, and thousands of the 100s so that about 13% of the population was in leadership, every 10 people on any level had someone to talk to, and only the biggest problems got kicked up to Moses’ level. Easier on him, easier on the people. We need to not be afraid to delegate. It doesn’t diminish our position, our influence, or our message. Quite the opposite.

Who to choose? Men who lived upstanding lives, loved God, loved truth, hated dishonest gain, and were capable. Good men who got trained, not learned men who had flaws. Excellent lesson. Jethro told Moses to think about it and to pray about it and only put it into practise if those two were compatible. Moses did, and it was a good system. Moses sent his father back home with much love and much thanks and Jethro went back to his own home.

Summary

Key Players: Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Jethro/Reuel

Key Themes: Remembrance, Obedience, Wise Administration

Key Verse(s): Exodus 16:3, 11-12, 17, 22; 17, 35; 17:3, 6, 8, 10-13, 15-16; 18:8-12, 23-26