Why study the OT?

Paul explains the importance of NT saints studying the Old Testament:

1Cor 10:6 Now these things happened as   examples ("types") for us, so that (term of conclusion) we would not crave evil things as they also craved (11) Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction (admonition), upon whom the ends of the ages have come

Romans 15:4 (Note) For  whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Click notes on Romans 15:4) (Click study of God's Hope)

What do you learn about testing from Abraham's Example?

Genesis 22:1 after these things...God tested Abraham...Ge 22:14called the name of that place the LORD will provide (Jehovah Jireh, the Provider)

It is not merely a son that God requires of Abraham, it was his only son Isaac, the son whom he loved and the son who was the crucial foundation stone for the fulfillment of the covenant promise that Abraham would become the father of many nations. This was not only a staggering faith commitment; it was an enormous personal challenge. Abraham's response was immediate obedience with not even a word of objection recorded in Genesis 22.

And so if you desire to see God's blessings  "unleashed" in your life and discover that God is your Jehovah Jireh, your Provider, then you must obey when tested. Abraham's obedience was immediate and unqualified. Don't be deceived: delayed obedience is immediate disobedience and partial obedience is complete disobedience. Is there some issue where you are only partially obeying what God has commanded? Our ability to claim and live by God's promises will come only when we first experience Him as Jehovah Jireh. In sum this Old Testament example teaches us that we must practice immediate obedience, must learn to trust Jehovah to be fully consistent with His nature, must believe that He is Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides, must be willing to place that which is most cherished in our life on the altar, surrendering it completely to Him, must be prepared to praise Him whether He restores our "Isaac" or removes it (fully cognizant that He is God, fully loving and altogether trustworthy) and finally must practice these principles daily.

Tested by Bitterness

In the days leading up to the revelation of God as Jehovah Nissi the children of Israel had experienced repeated testings:

Exodus 15:25 there (at the bitter waters of Marah) He made for them a statute and regulation, and there He tested them them. He revealed Himself as Jehovah Rapha (Jehovah Rophe) declaring I the LORD am your Healer Ex 15:26

Israel had just experienced a great deliverance and Pharaoh's army had been destroyed by Jehovah and here at Marah they experience "defeat". Does it surprise you that great spiritual victory is often followed by defeat, discouragement, dissension, and depression?
Your adversary the devil, diabolos (click word study) often intensifies his spiritual attack immediately after we experience spiritual victory, ever seeking to snatch away victory and dull our joy. He was successful at Marah. Israel may have thought that like we often do that our difficult circumstances put God to the test, when in fact our circumstances are often allowed by a sovereign God to test us. The pattern for victory when we face bitter, "Marah-like" circumstances which might otherwise bring discouragement, disillusionment and bitterness is to listen to God and obey His commands and to remember that God can turn them "sweet". Bitter circumstances actually test us and teach us to trust God to meet every need of our life.

Unbelief is often detected in one's spirit and attitude (which often includes grumbling). When we fall to see God's hand in our daily affairs and fail to trust Him for our daily provision, we often begin to fret and complain about our difficult "Marah-like" circumstances. Learn from the negative example of Israel that when you come to "Marah", first listen earnestly to the voice of God, seeking to know what He is trying to say to you in your present circumstances.

Remember that often we tend to hear God clearly when we are on the mountaintop of spiritual victory but when we get to "Marah", we must tune our ears attentively to the voice of the Lord. Ask yourself what God is saying through your circumstances, what God wants you to do and what have you learned about God from these events and then without hesitation do what is right or in other words, behave righteously, instead of responding by grumbling and complaining when you find yourself at Marah. Overcome your circumstances by focusing on the reliability of the nature of God Who never changes, and Whom you can rely on to always be loving and trustworthy and able to meet your every need. Finally, when you find yourself at bitter waters, examine your life to see if there are areas of disobedience. Remember that your willingness and desire to obey God emerges from the fact that you know His character.

If you have become sidetracked at Marah, bitter in your soul and spirit, feeling that life has been unfair to you, the only way you can go from Marah to Elim and find sweet water is to turn to Jehovah Rophe.

Tested by Plenty

Ex 16:4 "The LORD said to Moses "Behold I rain bread from heaven for you and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction."

Ex 16:12 God said "and you shall know (by experience) that I am the LORD your God."

Tested by Lack

Ex 17:2 No water caused Israel again to grumble and Moses ask "Why do you test the LORD?"

When did this occur?
What is the context?

Ex 17:8  "Then" - be alert for expressions of time. Ask "when is then?" and study the context (see comments)

What did God allow?

Amalek (click) came and  fought against Israel

What was Israel's war experience? How had they "defeated" the Egyptians?

Ex 14:13 (As Pharaoh drew near) ...Moses said to the people, "Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever.

Where did the Amalekite attack take place?

Rephidim = "Rests"

Who is Amalek?

Begins with Esau & Jacob

Esau sold birthright for stew Ge 25:27-34

Esau saw no need to preserve a Future Blessing when he had such a pressing present need. Ge 36:12, 15-16

Isn't there a bit of "Esau" in us all...we are so prone to lose sight of "eternal" truths, instead giving in to our temporal desires?

Esau > Eliphaz > Amalek

"Esau bore a grudge
against Jacob" (Ge 27:41)

Verb tense for "bore grudge" (in the Septuagint) = imperfect denoting an action in time past, then present, but not finished. So we can begin to understand the deep root of enmity Amalek ("Esau") held for Israel ("Jacob").

What was Amalek's strategy?

Deut 25:17-19
(Context: a section from Moses' instruction to Israel just prior to entering Canaan)

"Remember what Amalek did to you along the way when you came out from Egypt how he met you along the way & attacked among you all the stragglers at your rear when you were faint and weary; and he did not fear God. Therefore it shall come about when Jehovah your Elohim has given you rest from all your surrounding enemies, in the land which Jehovah your Elohim gives you as an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out (click note) the memory of Amalek from under heaven; you must not forget

Note what Elijah did to the enemies of God in 1Ki 18:40 (Click  Spurgeon's comment)

Am I giving aid to brethren in the faith who have straggled behind because they have become faint and weary?

OR

Do I disregard & disrespect them because of their "weakness"?

(See note on Ro 15 weaker brother Spurgeon's note)

Am I thinking lightly of God's command to blot out the "Amalekites" in my life?

Note that "forget" is a keyword in Deuteronomy so we must be especially careful to heed this command to "not forget" (uses of "forget" in Deut)

The Second Battle Israel Waged was again with Amalekites: Nu 14:42-45

"Do not go up, lest you be struck down before your enemies, for Jehovah is not among you. (this truth is key when we go into spiritual warfare! see notes Ephesians 6:10) For the Amalekites and the Canaanites will be there in front of you and you will fall by the sword, inasmuch as you have turned back from following Jehovah. And Jehovah will not be with you. (disobedience resulted in loss of God's power and presence) But (they continue to disobey) they went up heedlessly to the ridge of the hill country; neither the ark of the covenant of the LORD nor Moses left the camp. Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down, and struck them and beat them down as far as Hormah.

Judges 6:1ff

Then the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of Jehovah and Jehovah gave them into the hands of Midian seven years and  the power of Midian prevailed against Israel. (How could this principle apply to a believer?) Because of Midian the sons of Israel made for themselves the dens which were in the mountains and the caves & the strongholds. For it was when Israel had sown, that the Midianites would come up with the Amalekites the sons of the east and go against them. So they would camp against them and destroy the produce of the earth as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance in Israel as well as no sheep, ox, or donkey.

When did Amalekites attack?
What's the context?
What was the result?

Contrast the outcome of the above battles with Amalek and that in Ex 17:13:

"So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword."

Why is the outcome different?

Had God changed -- was He no longer Jehovah Nissi?

From these examples of defeat in Numbers and Judges, when am I most likely to be attacked and defeated by the Amalekites in my life?

(click for more on Amalek)

   How did Moses respond?

  Ex 17:9 (note)
So Moses said to JOSHUA
(Jehovah is salvation Lxx = Iesous = "Jesus")
 

CHOOSE men (signifies a careful, well thought-out choice) (Lxx adds "mighty" men)

GO! FIGHT!
Station on top of hill
Staff of God in hand

Cf Gideon's 300 (Jdg 7:2)

What's God doing w/ Joshua?

Training Joshua to succeed Moses &  wage war upon the entry into Canaan.

What is God training you for?
 

Do the trials seem to never end, to be w/o ostensible purpose?
 

Could it be that God is training you in & thru the trial? (Js 1:2-4, 12)

As Cromwell said to his men:
"Trust in Providence and keep your powder dry"

What's Joshua's response in Ex 17:10? (note)

Joshua did as Moses told
  He obeys, submits, serves

Fought against Amalek

How was battle won Ex 17:11? (note)

Moses Hand

Up = Israel prevailed
Down =Amalek prevailed

How does he explain?
 Ex 17:12 (note)

Moses hands heavy
Stone seat provided

Aaron & Hur

Supported his hands
Steady until sunset

How do following verses help understand Aaron & Hur's role?

Isaiah 35:3 2Cor 1:11 Php 1:19 1Th 5:25 Heb 12:12 Pr 27:17 Ecc 4:9-12, Ro 15:30-32

        What was the result in Ex 17:13?
 (commentary)
 

So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek w/ edge of sword

         What was purpose?
To learn war (Jdg 3:1-2, Pr 17:3)

We must fight the good fight of faith but the victory belongs to the LORD (1Sa 17:47, 1 Sa 14:6, 2Chr 20:15-17, Ps 46:11, Zech 4:6, Pr 21:31 Ro 8:31,37)
 

How does the following verse relate to the war against Amalek? 

(See discussion Php 2:12-13)

What some lessons for life?

Moses by the staff in his hand looked for victory to God alone, & did not trust the “arm of flesh”
The Battle is the Lord's, but He often fights thru His human instruments like Joshua & the chosen men.

References -
Moses' Staff
  (note associations w staff)

Ex 4:2    1st reference
Ex 4:20  "staff of Elohim"
Ex 7:9     Staff > serpent
Ex 7:17   Nile to blood
Ex 8:5     Frogs on land
Ex 8:16   Dust to gnats
Ex 9:23   Thunder, hail, fire
Ex 10:13 Locusts

Ex 14:16 lift up your staff & stretch out your hand over the sea & divide it

Ex 17:5-6 same staff you struck Nile & strike Rock

Ex 17:9 staff of God in my hand

The staff of God was clearly a symbol of the presence of God's omnipotent power over evil, over nature, over every circumstance however hopeless (click comment)