1 Then all the congregation of the children of Israel set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sin, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the people contended with Moses, and said, “Give us water, that we may drink.” So Moses said to them, “Why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt the Lord?” 3 And the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses, and said, “Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” 4 So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me!”5 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel. Also take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 So he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contention of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”8 Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9 And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. 14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner.
Exo 17:1-15
Q & A：
- What can we learn from the Lord when it comes to choosing leaders from the Bible, especially in terms of one’s character, attitude and skills. Discuss what the key qualities a leader should have by referring to Moses who led the Israelites out of Egypt to the Promised Land and explain your understanding of servant leadership. (Exo 3:10-12; Num 12:3,7; Matt 9:35)
- What are the lessons for you when the contentious Israelites who followed Moses, complained and vented their frustration on Moses instead of seeking and trusting God to provide, considering that they had experienced God’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt and miraculously crossed the Red Sea. Discuss what you should do to be supportive as a team player or a family member instead of simply criticizing and bringing disunity to the team or family. (Exo 17:2-3, 7)
- Have you ever felt that your roles may seem insignificant or unnoticed behind the scene? What can you learn about working as God’s team to support the leader from Aaron and Hur’s roles in holding up the hands of Moses throughout the battle against the Amalekites? Knowing that God has his perfect timing in molding and preparing Joshua to be the next leader through supporting Moses, discuss what you have learnt regarding the right attitude to have in your current roles especially when you may feel ready to take up the next challenge or promotion but felt being held up with time in waiting. (Exo 17:9-13; Rom 10:17; Exo 33:11)