God’s blessings truly light up our days. Experiencing the outpouring of God's blessings brings deep joy and peace. We all enjoy the times when we recognize God's work in our life, His power and presence are being manifested. However, all of us need to know that our blessings are always followed by battles. Major moments of spiritual triumph or blessing in life are frequently followed by severe trials and testing. Good times that bring joy, ease, and extra resources is followed by hard times that bring tests and pain. 

Examples that Blessings was followed by a Battle.

Immediately after His baptism, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness, where He fasted for 40 days and nights and faced three specific temptations by the devil. This powerful moment shows how major spiritual highs are often followed by intense challenges (Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 4:1).

     The transition from the divine affirmation at Jesus' baptism to His immediate testing in the wilderness highlights the reality that high spiritual moments are often followed by periods of testing. 

After Elijah great victory on Mount Carmel challenges against 450 prophets of Baal, the prophet Elijah experienced a deep crash of fear, exhaustion, and despair. Triggered by Queen Jezebel's death threat, he fled into the wilderness, collapsed under a broom tree, and begged God to take his life (I Kings 18:20-40).

     Commitments are always followed by conflicts. Advancement always followed by adversity. Blessings always followed by battles.

     This truth is an illustration on passage today Exodus 17:

I – MANNER OF GOD’S PROVISION – v.2- 6

     When we come to Exodus 17, we find the children of Israel journeying down into the dry, extremely barren place with hardly a shrub to be found and mountainous wilderness of the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula. Here we find them encamped at a place called Rephidim that was equally as barren and dry with towering walls of stone on either side, a place where there was no water (Exodus 17:1 “and there was no water for the people to drink”). Since departing Egypt for the Promised Land of Canaan, Israel has encountered numerous trials, and now they face yet another trial, this one more severe than the previous. The waters of Mara were bitter (Exodus 15:22-23), even to the point of being undrinkable, but at least there was water, there was a resource (bitter water though it was) with which the Lord could work and change into sweet water. In the Wilderness of Sin there was no bread and they had used up their provisions (Exodus 16:1-3); but, if need be, they could have begun to slaughter their cattle for food. But now, at Rephidim, they encounter their most severe trial to date: there is no water; there is nothing at all down here. 

     Exodus 17 records how God miraculously and wonderfully provides water for His children. Exodus 17:6 “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.” God provides water to save the thirsty Israelites. Let us talk about the manner of God’s provision. The way of God provides based in this event.

     The people quarreled with Moses (Exodus 17:2 “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?” The word “chide” means to complain. At Marah they murmured against Moses, there was a tremor of unrest (Exodus 15:24 “And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?”). Anger people of God.

     Here in our passage, in the Wilderness of Sin the whole congregation murmured (Exodus 17:3 “And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses”), The word “murmured” has an idea of complaining, but it refers to consistent complaining. It is more than one time complaint, for they just kept complaining for the lack of water. Now there was a rumble of discontent (Exodus 16:2 “Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink”). Here at Rephidim there is open hostility against Moses. These defiant people blamed Moses for the predicament they were in (Exodus 17:3 “Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?”).  But it is not Moses who had brought them out of Egypt because it says in Exodus 17:1 “their journeys, according to the commandment of the Lord, and pitched in Rephidim:” It is God who had brought them to their present location where they were.

     They are almost ready to stone him (Exodus 17:4 “And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.”). Moses cried unto the Lord. Instead of betraying any signs of resentment or vindictive imprecation on a people who had given him a cruel and unmerited treatment, was the expression of an anxious wish to know what was the best to be done in the circumstances. 

    Notice Exodus 17:5 “And the Lord said unto Moses,” The Lord instructed Moses not to smite the rebels, but the rock; not to bring a stream of blood from the breast of the offenders, but a stream of water from the granite cliffs. 

     Furthermore, we read that the people make a demand (Exodus 17:2 “Give us water”). It is no longer a legitimate question, as was posed at Marah, “What shall we drink?” nor is it an appeal, it is a defiant demand. Their demand is defined by Moses as a tempting and testing of the Lord (Exodus 17:2 “And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the Lord?”). Moses was saying that they were trying the patience of the Lord. They tempt the Lord whose presence in the cloud accompanied them through the wilderness-namely, Christ (I Corinthians 10:9 “Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.”).

     Two great reasons why we should be thankful to God: God is patient and God is gracious. Like these Israelites sometimes we try the patience of God, but we do not ever exhaust God’s patience. Even that we do not deserve God’s blessings, He even blesses us. So, we all ought to be thankful. 

Exodus 17:4-6 “And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.

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.”

     Notice the words of the Lord in Exodus 17:5 “Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel” In other words they have to take a journey from Rephidim. It is observable that the miraculous supply of water provided for the Israelites on this occasion was not given at Rephidim; because the rock that was smitten was not there, nor even in the immediate neighborhood of that station. Carefully notice the words in Exodus 17:6 “Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb;” First, the Hebrew phrase of the Lord frequently denotes the attitude and posture of a humble servant standing before his master. Secondly, "Horeb," is a dry place-the name given to the central cluster of the mountain range of which Sinai is a particular summit. It was perhaps the greatest miracle performed by Moses, and in many respects bore a resemblance to the greatest of Christ's, being done without showoff in the presence of a few chosen witnesses. [The Septuagint has translated, “Behold, I stand there before thou come to Horeb.”]. God is with them before arriving Horeb.

     People seem to have remained several days-perhaps a week-at Rephidim, the scanty supply of water was exhausted ('Biblical Researches,' vol 1: p. 179). This solution is quite satisfactory, considering that the daily necessities of more than two to three million people had to be met. The presence of the elders with Moses (Exodus 17:5 “take with thee of the elders of Israel”) when he struck the rock would be of the greatest importance, in affording independent and reliable testimony that there was no water there in Rephidim previously. Thus, our Lord took select disciples along with him going to Horeb to some of the most interesting scenes of his ministry, to be witnesses of the greatest of God’s miracles.

We read that Moses took the rod that he had held out over the waters of the Red Sea and God instructed Moses to strike the rock at Horeb with his staff, causing water to gush out abundantly to satisfy the entire population. We learned that where God guides, God provides. So, God proved that He is able and faithful to meet their every need.    

     Then the Lord sacrifices Himself for their sake (Exodus 17:6 “and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall came water out of it”). Refer to Isaiah 53:4 “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” The same is true that the Lord Jesus sacrificed to Himself to be crucified for our sins. 

     Who is that rock? There is interesting description of this scene I Corinthians 10:4, in order for us to have an insight in this miraculous supply of water. in I Corinthians 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.” The is a figurative language of the apostle Paul, when he speaks of the 'rock following' the Israelites. 

     The water may have flowed to the Israelites when encamped at Rephidim, at the distance of several miles from the rock, as the winter torrents do now through the wadys of Arabia Petraea. In fact, the words of the psalmist would lead us to conclude that this was actually the case (Psalms 78:15 “He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.”). The rock may have been smitten, too, at such a height, and at a place bearing such a relation to the Sinaitic valleys, as to furnish in this way supplies of water to the Israelites during the first of their journeyings from Horeb according to Moses (Deuteronomy 1:1-8). Display of God’s miracle.

     On this supposition, also, we see a reason why the rock should have been smitten to yield a large supply to flow to a distance (from Horeb to Rephidim), even though springs and rills might have been found pre-existent in Sinai. That is the miracle of God’s provision.

     Did you see that in spite of their continuous complaining, God provided the water they needed. Truly, often many of God’s blessings are conditioned upon our obedience, but there are times, God blesses us in spite of ourselves.  

    Remember, this was not the first time these people of God complained or murmured:

1. They complain because in Marah the waters were bitter – Exodus 15
2. They complain because they were hungry – Exodus 16

    Remember, now God provides miraculously to meet their needs in spite of their complaining:

1. God healed the waters – Exodus 15
2. God provided manna – Exodus 16 
3. God brought water out of the rock – Exodus 17

     Description of God’s provision (I Corinthians 10:4)

Estimation from 2-3 million people who were there and would require a lot of water. But God supplied enough water that all of them were able to drink. Possibly more than a fountain, this was a river. 

Paul is saying that the rock was a symbol of Christ who was constantly with them throughout their travels. That Rock was Christ. The water that came out of the rock was a perpetual supply of water for these people of God.  

II – MOMENTS OF PROVOCATION – v.8, Deuteronomy 25:17-18

     Following the Lord’s miraculous provision of water, what happens next to the children of Israel? Exodus 17:8; Deuteronomy 25:17-18

Exodus 17:8 “Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.”

     When did Amalek show up? Notice the word “Then”, that indicates that no sooner had they drank of the water that God provided and experienced the blessing of God when Amalek attacked them. As Israel breaks camp in this rugged wilderness of Rephidim, just after the Lord has graciously supplied them with water, they are attacked by the Amalekites. The Israelites found themselves being attacked by the Amalek immediately after the moment they are drinking of the blessing of God.  

     As we had said from the start of this sermon, spiritual battles often follow blessings. When you grow closer to God, expect opposition the devil who doesn’t want you to continue with the will of God, so the enemy arises doing all he can as he’s seeking to distract, discourage and defeat you. 

     These people of God had been discouraged because of lack of water, but with plentiful supply of water that God had miraculously given them, they were no doubt they were celebrating and rejoicing. That is why when you are at your highest point, your spiritual enemy attacks. Here Amalek attacked. It was at a time of blessings, the battles follow.

    At your highest moment, you are vulnerable, the devil attacks. The primary Bible examples of the devil attacking at a peak moment are Jesus facing temptation in the wilderness right after His baptism (Matthew 4:1-11) and Job facing severe trials when he was at the height of his wealth and righteousness (Job 1:8-12). Many Christians give their testimony saying that when they gave their life to the Lord, then everything fell apart. It is not surprising, the devil doesn’t want you loving Jesus, serving Jesus, obeying Jesus and honoring Jesus with your life. The devil will always fight those who take the things of God seriously in their life. So, it is a blessing to commit your life to God but be careful you are now in a spiritual battle. Expect the devil to fight when you are at your highest. 

     Moses reminded the Israelites of what happened in Exodus 17. Listen to what Moses said as he reminded them, Deuteronomy 25:17-18 “Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt;

¹⁸ 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.”  

      This was a cruel attacked to Israelites from behind by a heartless, merciless enemy, the Amalekites struck the rearmost portion of Israel, attacking the weakest, and the feeble. Amalekites attacking Israel when they were faint, and weary, having no fear of God. 

     Who were the Amalekites? They were the cruel, wild tribes living in the desert wilderness of the Sinai Peninsula. The Amalekites (Numbers 24:20 “Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.”) were the first to oppose the march of the Israelites after the miraculous passage of the Red Sea. Amalekites were descendants of Esau. Amalek was the grandson of Esau (Genesis 36:12) and Esau was the twin brother of Jacob (Israel), and Amalek descendants which are the Amalekites became the archenemy of Israel. The Amalekites entertained a deep grudge against the Israelites, especially as the rapid prosperity and marvelous experience of Israel showed that the blessing contained in the birthright was taking effect. 'Wady Feiran belonged to them (according to Richard Lepsius, who was a German Egyptologist and a founder of modern, scientific archaeology). Amalekites had allowed the great host of Israel to march into and encamp in the Steppes without opposition, but were not very likely to surrender without a struggle the gem of the Sinai Peninsula. But the Israelites gave no evidence that they had the intention of either injuring the persons or seizing on the territory of the Amalekites, which Amalekites does not authority to have own any part of the land of which the Jews were commanded by God to take possession. There is no more dispute over land and water. But what is now involved here is nothing less than that spiritual warfare, that we can trace its origin back to Jacob (Israel) and Esau (the grandfather of Amalek). And we go back to the distinction God made between “the offspring of the woman” (the redeemed) and the “the offspring of the serpent” (the world of unbelievers under the dominion of the devil). Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”  The verse establishes a perpetual conflict between two groups of people: those who follow the ways of the world and Satan, and those who follow God. 

     Satan knows how to attack and when to attack us and where to attack us. Satan knows where we are most vulnerable. Satan knows exactly what to do in order to discourage and defeat us. Satan always attacks us not only in our highest point but at our weakest point.

III – MEANS OF PREVAILING – v.9-13

     How are the children of Israel delivered from their enemies? What are the means?

     Amalek may have attacked the Israelites at their highest and weakest point but in the end the children of Israel were victorious.

     We have to give importance and focus on our prayer to face spiritual battle against the adversary. We have here a great picture of prayer that gives the victory.

     Moses orders Joshua to select combat troops from Israel’s ranks and meet the Amalekites in battle. That Moses did not act as the commander, having transferred the command to Joshua (Exodus 17:9 “And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek”) 

     Moses goes to the top of the hill with the staff of God in hand where he might not be seen by the warriors in the heat of the battle. Then Moses lifts up his arms in intercessory prayer to the Lord on behalf of Joshua and the Israelite warriors (Exodus 17:9 “tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. “). Are you one of those prayer men and women in your church and in your family?

     Joshua did not just heard Moses but obeyed the instruction of Moses as God instructed them to prevail against the enemy (Exodus 17:10 “So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill”). Hur has his intimate relation by family ties to Moses and Aaron, having been, according to Jewish tradition, the husband of Miriam. Hur was grandfather of Bezaleel, the great sculptor and artificer of the tabernacle, (Exodus 31:2), and belonged to the tribe of Judah. We see a picture of immediate family praying.

     Victory is won through prayer. Moses lifting his hands toward heaven is a picture of prayer, (Exodus 17:11 “And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed”). We prevail against the devil and the power of darkness not by our might, skills, but through God who answers our prayers. 

     Noticeably, that the leader Moses did not stretch his rod over the enemy, like what he did in performing the wonders in Egypt, but raised his hands (although with the rod elevated with his stretched hands) but not inclined in favor of the enemy, and it shows that it was intended to serve as a banner for assuring the Israelites of divine help and victory. 

     And the result of prayers is the victory of Israel over Amalekites their enemies (Exodus 17:13 “And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.”) Moses now gave the Israelites an important lesson, that in all their conflicts with the ungodly powers of the world, a believing dependence upon Yahweh, through prayer, was the sure and certain pledge of victory. On the other hand, it is observable that the “rod” was given to Moses for the purpose of working wonders (Exodus 4:17), and that it never seems to have been used in a season of prayer.

Example: Paul speaks of his present ordeal, testifies in Philippians 1:19 “For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,” Paul is saying that through prayers and help given by the Spirit of Christ, the result will be his deliverance. 

It was by prayer that the children of Israel defeated Amalekites and it is true with us. It was by prayer that the battle was won. Failures in our Christian life can be traced in our prayer life. No prayer, no power. 

Exodus 17:11 “And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.”

     As long as Moses held up his arms the Israelites prevailed thereby indicating that the victory is won by the power of the Lord in response to intercessory prayer. It was the attitude of prayer of a humble servant God and a true leader that is to remain victorious through prayer. But whenever Moses lowered his hands, Amalek prevailed indicating that when we quit praying the enemy prevails. 

     Interestingly, we see Moses lifted up not one hand only but both hands were raised (Exodus 17:12 “But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.”) that two raised hand was the position of a suppliant or begging God. When his arms became tired, he sat down on a rock and Aaron and Hur held his arms up. That is a picture of maintaining our prayer life. 

     Moses was engaged in prayer and was confirmed by the fact of Moses gave instruction, for the personal encouragement of Joshua before the start of the battle, and that his intention of seeking help in prayer in that situation.

     God wants us to maintain being prayerful so God teaches His disciples a parable to ought always to pray and not faint (Luke 18:1 “men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”). Paul says, I Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

     This story teaches us that when God blesses Israelites, they keep praying, it is not time for them to stop praying. Never quit praying so that the enemy could not prevail. That is remaining victorious through prayer.

     Did you notice, that many of us pray for the blessing but not after the blessing. We seek God for the blessing but afterwards we forget God. Oftentimes, our blessing come as a result of a prolonged season of prayer because there has been a time that we are sincere and earnest in our prayer. However, be careful not to cease to pray when God answers our prayers and sent His blessings. Why? When God blessed us, we are so vulnerable, so prayer becomes even more vital because it protects us from the attacks of the enemy.

    All of us want God to bless, yet may all of us be reminded that with those blessings come the battles. Moreover, we can remain victorious in those battles through prayers. God bless.