Exodus 17 Summary: A Concise Overview in 5 Minutes

Exodus 17 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• According to Exodus 7:7, Moses was 80 years old when he stood before Pharaoh as the representative of God (1491 B.C.).

• God delivered the Israelites from slavery in approximately 1491 B.C.

• The events in Exodus 16 occurred 1 month after the Exodus (16:1). The events in Exodus 17 followed shortly after.  

CHARACTERS:

• Israelites (Hebrews) – They were the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and they grew into a great nation of people during their time in Egypt.   

• Moses – A Hebrew who grew up in the house of Pharaoh. He fled Egypt in Exodus 2 and went to live in Midian. God called him back to Egypt to deliver the Israelites from slavery.

• Aaron – Moses’ brother who God selected to help him lead the Hebrews through the wilderness.

• Amalekites – A nation of people that made war with the Hebrews when they were camped in Rephidim.

WHERE:

• God led the Hebrews from the Red Sea to Marah and then on to Elim.  

• In Exodus 16, the Israelites went from Elim to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai (16:1).

• In chapter 17, they left the wilderness and camped in Rephidim (17:1).

OUTLINE:

• GOD BRINGS WATER FROM A ROCK (17:1-7):

  • After gradually travelling out of the Wilderness of Sin, the Israelites camped at Rephidim and immediately began complaining because there was no water.

  • They grumbled against Moses and God, and began questioning whether God was actually with them or not.

  • God told Moses to take the elders of the people and the staff he used when he worked miracles before Pharaoh, and to stand on the rock of Horeb.

  • Moses was told to strike the rock with his staff and water would come out.

  • Moses did as the Lord commanded and all the people drank.

  • Moses called the place Massah and Meribah because of the quarreling of the people and “because they tested the Lord.”

• WAR WITH AMALEK (17:8-16):

  • The Amalekites came to Rephidim and fought with the Israelites.

  • Moses commissioned a man named Joshua to lead a select group of warriors to fight against Amalek.

  • He told Joshua he would stand on a hill above the battle with the “staff of God” in hand.

  • Joshua went to battle and Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of the hill.

  • Whenever Moses held up his hands, the Israelites would prevail, but whenever he put his hands down, Amalek would start winning.

  • When Moses got tired, Aaron and Hur held his arms up.

  • Joshua defeated the Amalekites.

  • Moses built an altar and called it “The Lord is My Banner.”

APPLICATION:

• Why did Moses have to hold up his hands and the staff to win the battle?

• The staff represented the power of God.

• It was to be understood that the victory belonged to God.

• The Israelites had been freed by the power of God, fed by the power of God, and had defended by the power of God.

• This repeating pattern should teach us our dependence on God.

• This is why Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” and “deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:11-13).

• Those prayers are constant reminders of our need for God.