It will be recalled that in our last lesson we drew attention to the fact of God’s proving the children of Israel as to “whether they will walk in my law, or no” (Exod. 16:4), and that this proving would be in connection with the ingathering of the manna, “a certain amount every day.”

The account tells us, despite the fact that each man was to gather sufficient for the needs of his family each and every day (but not any more), and that none of it was to be kept over “till the morning.” (Exod. 16:16, 19) “Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank…” (Exod. 16:20) Thus would they prove their desire to walk in the law of God, and their worthiness to continue in his grace and favor. The keeping of this manna “till the morning” evidences two things; first, the gathering of more than their needs for the day; and second, the determination not to gather on the following day. What does this imply, if not the building up of a reserve today, against the anticipated laziness of tomorrow! Such, surely, is not according to the law of God. True, God did provide sufficient on the sixth day, to serve as a reserve against the seventh day, but this was only because in his great Wisdom and Love, he had given them (as a gift), a sabbath of rest. Nor was this to be construed by them as license for the building up of reserves against any other day save the seventh. What a glorious thought is suggested here for the antitypical Israel of God! We must gather in, or appropriate to ourselves each and every day its needs of that righteousness, and justification which is in Christ Jesus. But in a larger sense, we are gathering during the sixth day, the reserve which is to carry us through the seventh, wherein it will be not needful, yea, to the contrary, it will be impossible, to gather the heavenly manna. That seventh day is to be a God-given “sabbath of rest.”

There is, however, still another thought which we do well to meditate upon, for it also has to do with the proving as to whether we will walk in the law of God, or no, and is in connection with the God-given “sabbath of rest” which is already ours.

You will recall that the Sabbath was established in Eden, “and on the seventh day God ended his work…and he rested on the seventh day and sanctified it…” (Gen. 2:2, 3) It was also lost in Eden as far as man was concerned. No longer was he to enjoy this gift of God his “sabbath rest”; “cursed is the ground for thy sake…thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee…in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken, for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” (Gen. 3:17-19)

Nor was this “sabbath rest” again suggested until we find God establishing it with his redeemed people, Israel, in the wilderness! And yet, with what reluctance they seem to have entered into it. They had not yet reached Sinai where they in due course were to receive the TEN COMMANDMENTS. The Sabbath to them was still a gift from God, but at Sinai, it became a part of the LAW COVENANT; it there became mandatory – grace ended and works began.

For the true Israel of God, there is a Christian “sabbath,” not one day out of seven, but every day is one of “God-given” rest in the accomplished redemption which is in the Ransom Sacrifice of Christ Jesus. By faith, one who is thus justified, has entered into God’s rest, he has ceased from his labors. “Now it was not written for his sake alone.… But for us also…if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was…raised again for our justification. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 4:23-5:1) “So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief…for we which have believed do enter into rest…for he spake in a certain place of the seventh day…and God did rest the seventh day from his works…there remaineth therefore, a rest to the people of God, for he that is entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from his.” (Heb. 3:19; 4:3, 4, 9, 10)

It is not “works” that brings to us the justification which is in Christ Jesus, but rather faith. Thus this “sabbath rest” in the accomplished redemption from the Adamic condemnation, is the gift of God. The apostle declares, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2:8, 9)

There are many antitypical Israelites who refuse to enter into this “rest” which is by the grace of God furnished in Christ Jesus. They feel that they must do great things, mighty works, to justify themselves in the sight of God. But to work in the day which God has sanctified for rest, is the mark of unbelief, of disobedience, and for such as would thus gather “by works” there is no more bread from heaven to be found! But this is the way in which God proves his people to see whether they will walk in his law, or no. Ah, dear friends, let us rest from our works, and enjoy the “sabbath rest of God” which is in Christ Jesus.

But lest we conclude that this “rest” implies idleness, let us be reminded of the fact that Adam in Eden, enjoying, as it were, the God sanctified sabbath, was nevertheless to “replenish the earth, and subdue it.” (Gen. 1:28) So too, every consecrated child of God, though enjoying God’s sabbath “rest” cannot be idle, for he must, and will, be busy keeping his body under, and bringing it ever more and more into subjection to that new mind which is in Christ Jesus. (1 Cor. 9:27) This is a “work” but not that by which we are redeemed from the Adamic curse, and justified, for that is by faith alone. The work of keeping the body under, and bringing it into subjection of the new mind is, however, one which proves our faith to be a living one, for it is hope-inspired. The Apostle says in 1 John 3:3, “and every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

Analysis will prove that the doing of these “works” of faith, is not a violation of the sabbath of God, but rather a feeding upon the heavenly manna during that sabbath day. Truly, the labor entailed in keeping the body under, and bringing it into subjection of the new mind, evidences the appropriation of Christ Jesus to ourselves, for is it not the “bearing about” as it were, “in our body the dying of the Lord Jesus” so “that the life also of Jesus might be [more and more] manifest in our body.” (2 Cor. 4:10)

We are according to the laws of Dietetics, more or less what we eat! Applying this law to the spiritual then, it follows that the more we appropriate the Christ-life to ourselves, the more Christ-like we ourselves become. Thus the eating of this heavenly manna spells death for the old man, but life for the new; for “though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” (2 Cor. 4:16)

Accordingly then, we do labor, but not for our redemption from the Adamic condemnation, nor for the consequent justification, for this is already accomplished in the Ransom Sacrifice of Christ, in which by faith we must rest, the sabbath rest of God. Any other works save those of faith by which we strive to enter into the fullness of that rest are violations of God’s law. Do we not then see how God proves the antitypical Israelite in the matter of this ingathering of the heavenly manna, and the maintaining of his “sabbath” of grace – “I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them…six days ye shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none.” (Exod. 16:4, 26)

According to the itinerary set forth in Num. 33:12-14, the children of Israel after leaving the wilderness of Sin encamped at Alush and Dophkah, before arriving at Rephidim, the next station in their wanderings to receive our particular attention. Nothing having been recorded of their experiences at either Alush or Dophkah, we should have to pass over these encampments without comment. However, from the fact that these stations have been recorded, we gather that the Holy Spirit intended some lesson for us. What may this lesson be? Perhaps the rapidity with which these movements were made was intended to suggest a restlessness on the part of the people. From the “Dictionary of Bible Proper Names” compiled by Cyrus A. Potts, we learn that ALUSH means: crowd of men, mingling together; and that DOPHKAH means: pressure of water; cattle-driving. Perhaps we have in these meanings the secret of Israel’s restlessness. There were many people and also cattle crowded together with but very little if any water to drink. Not merely the desire for water, but the urgent need of it to sustain them in life, put them under pressure to move on in search of it. Thus did they come to Rephidim where “there was no water for the people to drink.” (Exod. 17:1)

The account reads, “Wherefore the people did chide with Moses…and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou has brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?” (Exod. 17:2, 3) Poor Moses, they were ready to stone him to death! (Exod. 17:4)

Now we would again remind you that the desire for the necessities of life is not a sin, but the murmuring against the providences of God is. It registers the lack of faith, and the consequent failure to appreciate the fact that he who is “our Father” (Matt. 6:9) “knoweth what things” we have need of, (Matt. 6:8) and that even more than an earthly parent is willing to give good gifts to his children is the heavenly father to “give good things to those that ask him.” (Matt. 7:11) All our trials and all our experiences in the wilderness way are designed and ordained of God to promote this filial relationship, wherein our utter dependence upon him, will cause us to ask of him. But to ask of him, means to remember him! This it seems, Israel ever failed to do, though it never ceased to remember itself. Note how completely God is forgotten and self remembered, in the lesson presently before us:

Exod. 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 God is love (1 John 4:16) and in long-suffering kindness (1 Cor. 13:4) continued to strive with Israel. Did we not know something concerning the gross wickedness, indifference and lack of faith of our own hearts, we might be at a loss to understand Israel’s reactions to God’s unmerited grace. But let us remember, there came the time God ceased to strive with Israel any longer, and turned them back into the terrible wilderness. This was when, having come to Kadesh Barnea – the very portals of the promised land, they “lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night,” be- cause of the evil report of the spies, “and all of the children of Israel murmured…and the whole congregation said.…Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God that we had died in the wilderness! And wherefore hath the Lord brought us into this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? Were it not better for us to return into Egypt?” (Num. 14:1-3) Their heart was still evil, it was one of unbelief! Rather than go into the land with God, they would without him return to Egypt. (Num. 14:4) Note God’s words: “Doubtless, ye shall not come into the land…your carcases shall fall in this wilderness.” (Num. 14:30, 32) Let us take heed then, friends, lest there be in any of us such an “evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.” (Heb. 3:12)

Exod. 17:5, 6 – “And the Lord said unto Moses…take… thy rod…and go: behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock of Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink.”

The Apostle Paul in 1 Cor. 10:4, speaking of the Israelites of old, says they “did all drink the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and the Rock was Christ.” If then, the Holy Spirit is so specific about the matter, is there any justification to doubt that the rock which Moses smote typified Christ? What a glorious picture of God’s un- bounded grace! Says Bro. Russell:

“It was by the Lord’s arrangement that this ‘Rock of Ages’ was smitten, that the water of life might flow from Jesus for all of Adam’s race who would become Israelites indeed and come out of Egypt – out of the world – out of sin – out of the kingdom of the adversary into obedience and fellowship with the Lord.” (R5957:3)

It will have been noted that when the Israelites arrived at Rephidim “there was no water for the people to drink.” (Exod. 17:1) And it appears evident that they had been without water for some time. Therefore, we reason, they must have been “nigh unto death,” and surely, they would have died had God not provided for them water from the rock. There was here no room for indifference: anyone who desired to live, had to drink the water that flowed from the smitten rock. So it is with all the world of mankind. All lost trace of the waters of life when Adam, leaving the Paradise of God’s favor, entered the Wilderness of sin. Since then, Adam’s race has been dying for thirst of the living waters. Death – and that annihilation – was sure! But the time came when God smote the Rock – his only begotten son, Christ Jesus, on the Cross of Calvary, from whence the living waters have ever since flowed. True, not all of Adam’s race have yet been privileged to drink of this stream of life, but has not Christ himself assured us of the time, “when all that are in their graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth…” (John 5:28, 29) to hear, as it were, “the Spirit and the bride say, Come and let him that is athirst come and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Rev. 22:17)

But for the Israel of God of this Gospel Age, there remains this thought of the Apostle Paul, who after bringing to our attention the fact that those of old had been privileged to drink from this rock, declares, “but with many of them God was not pleased; for they were overthrown in the wilderness.” (1 Cor. 10:5) Why were they overthrown? Not because they received the grace of God, the Holy One of Israel, in vain! “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust…be idolators…commit fornication…tempt Christ…mur- mur.” (1 Cor. 10:6-10) Our appreciation of God’s past favors is marked in our present and future walks before him. Let us then “walk worthily of the calling wherewith we were called.” (Eph. 4:1; Amer. R.V.)

After Israel’s refreshment by the waters which flowed from the smitten rock, “came Amalek and fought with Israel.” (Exod. 17:8) Observe, dear friends, that Amalek might have come before and found Israel an easy prey for himself. Here is manifested the providential care of God over Israel. But you ask as to why God permitted Amalek to come upon Israel at all. Surely not because he wished Israel destroyed, but rather to reveal himself to them as the Mighty one of Israel, and to afford them the privilege of being strong in the power of his might.

Strength is developed in the resistance of, and to, adversity, but the admonition of the Apostle in Eph. 6:10 is, that we are to grow “strong in the Lord and the power of his might.” Strangely enough, the prerequisite for such growth is our own weakness. When the Apostle Paul, desiring to exercise more of the Lord’s power and strength in his ministry thrice besought him to remove the thorn in his flesh, he received this reply: “My grace is sufficient for thee; for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9, 10) Note then the Apostle’s resignation to the divine will: “Most gladly will I there- fore rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in my infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

Now note again that Amalek came after Israel had drank of the life-giving waters. For us, there is a special lesson here. We alone, of all people, have thus far drunk of the waters of life flowing out from the smitten rock Christ Jesus. The drinking, or appropriating to ourselves, of these waters, results not only in our justification unto life through faith in the blood of his sacrifice, but also our consecration to live for him (God, the Father) who by means of this smitten rock has redeemed us out of death. It is after this, that Amalek, who well types the flesh, appears to fight with us. Amalek was the grandson of Esau, who preferred a mess of pottage to the birth- right. (See Gen. 36:12) Amalek was the first to battle with Israel after their redemption from the bondage of Egypt. In Deut. 25:17-19 we read of the admonition given to Israel. It is as follows:

“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 hindermost part of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary: and he feared not God. Therefore it shall be, when the Lord thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee from an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget it.”

Then too, you will remember that Saul was set aside from the kingdom of Israel in consequence of his failure to destroy Amalek. (1 Sam. 15)

Do we need any more than this to establish the antitypical identity of Amalek as the flesh? Are we not in continued warfare with this enemy who would retard, if not completely destroy our wilderness progress toward Canaan? Nor need we think that we have in ourselves sufficient strength to combat this wily foe. The Israelites would have been annihilated had it not been for Moses intercession on their behalf. So too, is it with us. It is God who giveth us the victory through Christ Jesus. All of our struggling is to no avail, if it be without the assistance of Christ in his exalted position on “top of the hill.”

How beautifully this picture unfolds before our eyes. Look at the type, when Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hands, Amalek prevailed. (Exod. 17:11) It sets forth the Israelites utter weakness and inability to do ought without the power of God. Their strength could be only in the power of his might, nor could this be theirs without Moses’ intercession. What a lesson this should be for us! yet how often do we go out to battle the flesh in our own strength, and what miserable wrecks we are as a result. How true are the words of Jesus: “Without me, ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Moses’ hands grew tired and had to be supported, else, even despite Moses’ position atop the hill, Israel would have been vanquished by Amalek. True, our Lord’s arms never grow tired, but they will not be lifted up on our behalf, unless we too support him. What does this mean? Ah, dear friends, it means that in our hearts we must “love righteousness, and hate iniquity.” (Heb. 1:9) May we suggest that the one arm of the Lord represents his love of righteousness, and the other his hatred of iniquity. Both arms must needs be lifted. It is not sufficient that we love righteousness, but we must also hate iniquity. Thus our endorsement of the character of Jesus in our hearts, which implies that we will to the best of our ability emulate his example, insures for us his intercession and advocacy before God. The victory over the flesh will be then ours, but only through the grace of God as manifested in Christ Jesus.

It is important that we note Amalek was discomfited, but not destroyed. Hence he appears and reappears again and again in the history of the Israelites. Thus too, it is with us. The victory over the flesh today is not through its destruction, but merely through the overcoming of it. We shall have to fight with Amalek again and again. There is to be a perpetual warfare here until by God’s grace the ultimate victory is ours in death. In Exod. 17:16 we read: “Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.” How significant! But blessed be his name, he has assured to the true Israel of God the final victory.

Let us “watch and pray”!

In harmony with the foregoing presentation that even as Moses’ hands had to be lifted up on behalf of Israel, it is necessary that Christ’s hands be lifted on our behalf if the victory over antitypical Amalek – the flesh – is to be ours, we suggest the identity of all that is “highest” and “noblest” within us with Aaron and Hur of the type. Both Aaron and Hur bore a kinship to Moses: the former was Moses’ brother, the latter Moses’ brother-in-law, i.e. Miriam’s husband.

According to Cyrus A Pott’s “Dictionary of Bible Proper Names,” Aaron means “very elevated” and Hur means “noble.” Surely the highest and noblest traits which lie within us bear a kinship to Christ Jesus himself and it is only by these that our hearts endorse and uphold

the character of Jesus, and in so doing we enlist on our behalf the POWER of God. Thus the victory over Amalek is ours, for we uphold the arms of the antitypical Moses, Christ, who is scripturally referred to as the “arm of the Lord” (Isa. 53:1) i.e. the power of God unto Salvation. (See John 12:38; Isa. 51:5, 9; Isa. 52:10; Isa. 59:15-20)