This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.

Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.

Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&h) for each page to:

Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418

Bro. Bruce's commentary for the book of Genesis is
now available for $7.50.

EXODUS
CHAPTER 17
1 And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD? 3 And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst? 4 And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.

As the nation of Israel continues to move, they come to Rephidim; and again
they find no water. There are some important symbols in this passage of Scripture.

WATER. Water represents living for life. Remember the waters at
Mara (Ex. 15:23) were "bitter." Sometimes life is bitter because of things
like sin and death (hmmm & maybe taxes?).
But when you throw in the "TREE" of eternal life through faith in Jesus,
then life becomes "SWEET." Even this bitter life on earth has its times
of refreshing like Elim (Ex. 15:27). But we must have water to live!
Jesus is the "Living water" for eternal life.
The people complained to Moses, and Moses prayed. Notice the sense urgency
in Moses' prayer. he was feeling very threatened (vs 4).

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?

Here is another symbol: ROCK. God would stand beside Moses as Moses struck
the rock. Then water would come out of the rock.
JESUS is the "Rock" (1Cor. 10:4). It is only through Jesus that the water
of eternal life flows. The "Rock" must be struck; but only once (Rom. 6:9-10).
Later on, Moses will let anger overcome his direction from God, and strike the Rock
again. For this reason he was not allowed to enter the Promised Land (Num. 20:2-13).
The "Rock" (Christ) can only be struck ONCE for all people (Heb. 9:28, 10:10).
After this, people must "speak" to the Rock in order to be saved and to receive
life-giving water (Jer. 33:3, Rom. 10:9-10, Rom. 10:13).

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.

It was in this place (Rephidim) that the Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites.
Amalek was grandson of Essau according to Gen. 36:12.
Listen, when we contend with God about the way He leads us, He may send more
trouble. This is to teach us (see John 13:16).
But God always has a plan for us to overcome any trouble. We are to do as He
instructed Moses: hold up the "rod" - His WORD.
This is a job in which we need each other for help. Notice that Aaron and
Hur helped Moses hold up the rod.

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.

God wants us to know this lesson - it is important, therefore He instructed
them to write it down for future generations.
A new name for God appears in His progressive revelation of Himself as we travel
through the Bible. Jehovah-Nissi. It means "the Lord is my banner."
A banner was a flag with a symbol, and the flag was attached to a tall pole.
it was under the flag that tribes would gather to rally for a war.
JESUS is the "banner" for the Christian. HE is our rallying point.

Please continue to follow along in Bible study with us.