LESSON 17
THE ROCK AND THE FLESH
—by E. L. Bynum
Memory Verse: I Cor. 10:4 (N.W. 18:9)————Lesson: Ex. 17:1-16
This chapter begins with “AND,” which is a conjunction. Thus we know that the events in this chapter are connected with that which goes before. “Exodus 16 and 17 go together and John 6 and 7 go together likewise. In Exodus 16 we find the Manna and in John 6 the bread of life. In Exodus 17 the water out of the rock, they type of the Holy Spirit; in John 7 the Lord Jesus announces the coming gift of the Holy Spirit. John 7:37-39, In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) I Cor. 10:4, And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. Arno C. Gaebelein
I. THE SMITTEN ROCK. v. 1-7
A. No Water In Rephidim. v. 1-4
1. They journeyed according to the command of the Lord. v. l
2. There was no water. v. 1
3. They blamed Moses. v. 2. If they had only realized that God had led them there for a purpose, and that wherever He guides, He provides.
4. They tempted God. v. 2. Psa. 78:15-19, He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths. He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers. And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness. And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust. Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?
5. Their utter unbelief. v. 3. We marvel that a people could say such a thing after seeing all the miracles. After all God had provided Manna and quail, so why should they doubt Him now. This really reveals the awful condition of the human heart. The child of God can always depend upon God. Rom. 8:28, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
6. Moses cried unto the Lord. v. 4. Psa. 46:1, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
7. They were almost ready to stone Moses. v. 4. This is the first time that stoning is mentioned in the Bible.
B. Water From The Rock. v. 5-7
1. Moses instructed to take the elders. v. 5
2. The Lord stood upon the rock. v. 6
3. Moses told to smite the rock. v. 6
4. The “ROCK” is one of the titles of God. Deut. 32:15; Isa. 32:2. II Sam. 22:2, And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer. Psa. 95:1, O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
5. Christ is that rock. I Cor. 10:4. Matt. 16:18, And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
6. Typical teaching on the rock.
a. The rock had to be smitten – so must Christ.
b. Smitten by the rod of Moses. Christ smitten by God. Isa . 53 :4, Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
7. Water from the smitten rock. v. 6. The water is a type of the Holy Spirit. John 7:37-38, In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
8. All of Israel had water. I Cor. 10:4, And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. Every child of God has the Holy Spirit. Rom. 8:9, But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
9. A new name given. v. 7 (Keep in mind that Israel deserved judgment, but grace granted mercy).
C. Water From The Rock The Second Time. Num. 20:2-13
1. The rock in Exodus 17 foreshadows Christ on the cross.
2. The rock in Numbers 20 foreshadows Christ exalted on high. The word for rock is different in these two chapters in the Hebrew. In Numbers 20, the word for rock speaks of a high rock or fortress.
3. In Exodus 17 Moses used his own rod, but in Num. 20, he used Aaron’s rod. This shows the exalted priestly work of Christ. Num. 17:10; and 20:9.
4. The rock was not to be smitten in Num. 20, for it is a type of Christ who was smitten once. Rom. 6:9-10, Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Heb. 9:26, For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
5. There is a penalty to pay for doing the right thing in the wrong way. Num. 20:12. Proper methods are important.
II. THE SMITTEN FLESH. v. 8-16
The flesh is under the domination of this world system. God’s people have been delivered from this present evil world. Gal. 1:4, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father. Christians are in the world physically, but of the world spiritually. John 17:14-16, I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. We are not to be conformed to the world. Rom. 12:2, And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Unless this is a reality in our lives, we will never be able to have victory over the flesh.
A. Amalek Typical Of The Flesh.
1. Amalek was the Grandson of Esau. Gen. 36:12, And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau’s son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau’s wife.
2. He was born after the flesh. Gal. 4:29, But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
3. The Amalekites were foes of Israel. Num. 24:20, And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever. I Sam. 14:48; I Sam. 15:2, 3, 7, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt. I Sam. 27:8; 30:1-18; II Sam. 8:12; I Chron. 4:41-43
4. So is the flesh and enemy of the child of God. Gal. 5:17, For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. I Pet. 2:11, Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. Rom. 7:15-25
B. Only God Can Give Victory Over The Flesh. v. 8-16
1. The place and occasion. v. 8. It was at Rephidim, after they drank from the Rock. Is it not the same today? Notice that the conflict followed the last 7 words of verse 7.
2. Amalek (the flesh) must be fought against. v. 9
3. Weapons of divine appointment must be used. v. 9 . This is the first mention of Joshua. This is the first mention of Joshua, but he will be mentioned about 200 times in the rest of the Bible. His name means “Jehovah is salvation.” The New Testament rendering in Greek is Jesus.
4. Joshua is a type of the believers in prayer in conflict with the flesh. v. 10
5. Moses on the mount is a type of the believer in prayer and supplication before God. v. 11. I Tim. 2:8, I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
6. It is only as we seek help from above that we prevail over the flesh. v. 11. Psa. 28:2, Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.
7. How weary we become in supplication. v. 12. Luke 18:1, And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint. I Thess. 5:17, Pray without ceasing. Col. 4:12, Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
8. The word of God (sword of the Spirit) needed to prevail over the flesh. v. 13. Heb. 4:12, For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Eph. 6:17, And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Psa. 119:11, Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
9. Though Amalek (flesh) was discomfited, he was not destroyed, and so it is in our battle against the flesh. v. 13. I Cor.9:26-27, I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
10. Amalek (flesh) attack the weak and the faint. Deut. 25:17-18, Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt; How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God. Isa. 40:30-31, Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
11 . Amalek finally to be destroyed. v. 14
12. Jehovah-nissi (the Lord our banner), will never compromise with the flesh. v. 15-16
—by E. L. Bynum
STUDY QUESTIONS
1. Why does this chapter begin with “AND?”
2. How does Exodus 16 relate to Exodus 17?
3. How does John 6 and John 7 compare?
4. Why were they at Rephidim in the first place?
5. Who did they blame for lack of water?
6. What were they about ready to do to Moses?
7. Who stood upon the rock?
8. What was the rock a type of?
9. Who is called “ROCK” in the Bible?
10. What is the significance and the lesson from the smiting of the rock
11. What did the water typify?
12. Who all received the water, and what is the lesson from this?
13. Briefly contrast the difference between the smiting of the rock in Exodus 17 and Numbers 20.
14. What did the disobedience of Moses cost him?
15. Explain the origin of Amalek.
16. Who or what does Amalek typify?
17. How can we gain the victory over Amalek?
18. What will finally happen to Amalek?