269. SUSTAINED BY GOD IN THE DESERT

"The Lord thy God bare thee as a man doth bare his son"

The Greek word "Exodus" used by the Septuagint translators to name the second book of the Bible, simply means "the way out". But to leave Egypt behind truly, God's people had to learn to turn away from "self" and depend upon their Maker. It was to teach this lesson that God brought them into the wilderness (cp. Deut. 8:2). It is a lesson that should not be lost upon us, for once we receive the message of the Truth, we must come into covenant relationship with the Father, through the blood of the Passover Lamb (cp. Ex. 12:13 with Jn. 1:29), and begin our journey, under Yahweh's direction and with Christ at our head. It will take us on "the way out" from sin and death and bring us in due time to an inheritance in the Kingdom of God. The "wilderness" through which we must pass is the sinful world about us, and its fleshly ways will destroy us as surely as it destroyed Israel unless we turn to Yahweh to sustain us (Num. 14:29-30; cp. Heb. 3:17-19).

The aim of this lesson is to show how God cared for His people day by day, and answered their prayers.

Exodus 15-17

MARAH AND THE TREE OF HEALING (Ex. 15:23-26).

The lessons of dependence upon Yahweh were driven home to Israel immediately after their departure from Egypt. Having crossed the Red Sea, for three long days they struggled onward, through harsh and unin viting territory. Supplies of water were depleted. Their situation had become quite desperate by the time they arrived at Marah ("bitterness"). But there, at Marah, they found water! They thought their troubles for the moment were over. But were they? In the hour of their desperate need, they found the water to be bitter and undrinkable! What could they do? Nothing.

Yet, Yahweh had led them to this place. Why? To "prove them" and to know what was "in their heart" and "to humble them" (Deut. 8:2). Their problems were far from over. They would die of thirst, unless God provided for their needs. Moses, the mediator, cried unto God and upon His instructions, a certain tree, with astonishing healing powers (cp. Gen. 3:22; Rev. 2:7; 22:14), was hewn down and cast into the waters.

Yahweh had clearly made the point that irrespective of outward ap pearances, either for good or ill, they would be dependent upon Him to sustain them throughout the entire journey to the land of promise.

The lesson of Marah was further taught by God's direct word: "If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of Yahweh thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am Yahweh that healeth thee" (v. 26). God reveals in this statement His omnipotence: as Maker of man's body. He can sustain it, afflict it with disease or heal it. The promise of health was given upon the condition of Israel hearing and do ing the commandments. This principle in its ultimate bearing is fulfilled in Christ. On the basis of faith he healed many of their diseases (Acts 10:38; Matt. 9:2). But the greatest disease man suffers is mortality, with which he has been smitten because of sin (Rom. 5:12). If we hear and do His commandments, He has promised to remove this curse from us and "swallow up" death in the victory of eternal health and life (1 Cor. 15:52-57).

ON TO ELIM (Ex. 15:27).

In contrast, the next resting place was a very pleasant oasis in the desert called Elim (a name meaning "Mighty Ones"). Here the twelve tribes found 12 wells of sweet water surrounded by 70 palm trees, which remind us of the 70 nations of Genesis 10 and the statement of Moses in Deut. 32:8. The 12 wells of water typify Israel as the medium through which (in the Kingdom) the nations will draw the water of life (cp. Jn. 4:13-14; 7:37-38). Elim was, for the spiritually minded in Israel, a symbolic picture containing a vision of hope € Israel finally at rest and refreshed, with the nations of the world at peace, and drinking from the hope of Israel, in the presence of the Mighty Ones of the future age (cp. Zech. 8:13, 23).

MANNA FROM HEAVEN (Ex. 16).

Journeying onwards through inhospitable country, Israel entered the wilderness of Sin, a place of ravines and cuttings running through harsh red granite mountains that thrust steeply upwards. The ravines are deep and narrow, twisting and turning in awful confusion among the moun tains, giving them a rugged and wild appearance. Just one month had passed since leaving Egypt (v.1), and now notwithstanding God's pillar of cloud suspended before them, they were bewildered and they "murmured against Moses and Aaron" (v.2). With food running low, they accused Moses of leading forth the nation to kill them, but he replied that it was God who had brought them there (v.6). In token of this, they would eat flesh that evening, and in the morning they would receive bread (v.12). And that evening, a miracle occurred. Quails were drawn to the spot, and the people gathered sufficient for their needs. Next morning, after sunrise, they found small, round flat cakes everywhere about them, in rich profusion. In the A.V., verse 15 reads, "It is manna", but the R.V. has "What is it?" € a question which revealed their wonder and amaze ment. Since they did not know what it was they named it after their ques tion, for "manna" means "What is it?" (v.31).

Moses explained that this was the bread of God's providing. He sent the people to gather it up, and when measured out, an omer (about two litres) was provided for each person, which they cooked and ate in various ways. Provision of the manna was a continuing miracle, appear ing six days of every seven, throughout the 40 years' wilderness wander ing until they reached the Promised Land. It then stopped, as suddenly as it began (Josh. 5:12). Like the Passover Lamb, it had to be eaten, leaving nothing for the next morning, except on the sixth day of each week, when the bread of two days was collected € none being permitted to be gathered on the seventh day. Bread left over on the first five days cor rupted, but miraculously this was not so on the sixth day, when what was kept for the seventh day did not corrupt.

God instructed Aaron to place some manna in a golden pot which was later placed in the Ark of the Covenant when it was built. This manna was miraculously preserved (Ex. 16:20-26, 33; Heb. 9:4).

A TYPE OF CHRIST (Jn. 6:31-38).

The great lesson in all this is that "man doth not live by bread alone, but by every word... of Yahweh" (Deut. 8:3). Something greater than ordinary bread is needed to sustain man for life eternal. That "something" is the word of God. Hence the manna is to be seen as a type of the Spirit-word (cp. Jn. 6:30-35; Matt. 4:4; Rev. 2:17). And when that Word is manifested in the flesh (Jn. 6), as it was in the Lord Jesus Christ, then man is feeding upon that which will sustain him eternally.

Many of the incidents relating to the manna point forward to the Lord Jesus Christ. "What is this?" was the question asked of Jesus, first when they could not understand him (Jn. 9:29), then on his entry into Jerusalem (Matt. 21:10). Like the manna, Jesus came from God (Jn. 8:23), for he is God's Son (Lk. 1:32-33). Like the miraculously preserved manna, God's Word is "incorruptible seed"; it "endureth forever" in the sense that obedience to it will lead to life eternal (1 Pet. 1:23, 25). As the golden pot of manna was kept within the Most Holy Place (Heb. 9:4), so Christ, the "Word made flesh" (Jn. 1:14), has entered the Most Holy, never to see corruption (Heb. 9:24). As the manna was provided at the beginning of a new day, so the Lord speaks of the hidden manna to be revealed at his second coming and given to the faithful, that they may have life in the fullest extent (Rev. 2:17). As the manna had to be gathered every day, so we must "eat" of Christ daily, absorbing his teachings so that they become part of us, causing us to think and act as God would have us to. Then shall we be "taught of God" (Jn. 6:45), as Israel was "fed of God" in the wilderness.

Through daily reading of the Bible, meditating thereon, and prayer, Christ will become our spiritual food and drink. By a figure we will thus "eat" him as the Israelites did the Manna in the wilderness, and we will be strengthened for life's journey "through the wilderness". But we must do this daily, and thus learn the lesson, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God".

WATER FROM THE ROCK (Ex. 17:1-7).

When they came to Rephidim ("Places of Rest"), the people were tired and thirsty. But "there was no water to drink", and the people chided with Moses, and murmured against him. They were so angry, Moses feared he would be stoned, and crying to God, he was instructed to take the elders with him to a rock in Horeb, and smite it with his rod. Im mediately he did so, water gushed forth for the people to drink. This rock pointed forward to Christ (1 Cor. 10:4). Christ is frequently styled in Scripture the Stone of Israel (Gen. 49:24; Ps. 118:22; Isa. 8:14; 28:16; Rom. 9:33; 1 Pet. 2:6-8). He was smitten by the Jews when he was crucified, but the smiting of Christ is the means by which "streams of liv ing waters" (the Truth in him) have poured out to refresh men and women in their walk of life (Jn. 4:14; 7:37, 38; 19:34; 1 Jn. 5:4-6).

HOW PRAYER DEFEATED THE AMALEKTTES (Ex, 17:8-16).

It was while the people were resting, faint and weary, that the Amalekites suddenly attacked them from the rear, striking at the strag glers, their weaker members (cp. Deut. 25:17-18). The initial attack repulsed, Moses immediately appointed Joshua to "go forth on the mor row" and fight against Amalek. Israel was not at this time trained or equipped for war, but they went forth in faith, relying on the strength of Yahweh. While the battle raged in the valley below, Moses, Aaron and Hur watched its progress. Israel's fate seemed to hang in the balance.

Then, as he watched, Moses assumed the attitude of prayer, lifting his hands to heaven, beseeching Yahweh's help (cp. Ps. 141:2). Instantly, Amalek was driven back and Israel's soldiers pressed forward in attack. But when his hands drooped through very weariness, Amalek prevailed and Israel was driven back.

Recognizing Yahweh's help gained through prayer, Aaron and Hur took a stone, sat Moses on it, and held up his hands "until the going down of the sun". By this means Joshua and Israel defeated Amalek, and Moses built an altar to commemorate the event, and named it "Yahweh my ensign". This altar pointed forward to Jesus Christ (Heb. 13:10), who is called the Ensign of Yahweh (Isa. 11:10-12). Prayer to God through him will ultimately gain the victory for us.

A PICTURE OF A FUTURE VICTORY.

In this wonderful victory over the mighty nation of Amalek (called the "first of the nations" € Num. 24:20), there is represented a picture of the coming victory of Christ over the evil forces that are in the world, for Amalek stands for the enemies of Israel. Further the incident reveals to us how we can overcome the many difficulties that face us from day to day. It is by the power of prayer through the Lord Jesus Christ. The picture of Moses resting on the stone, with Aaron and Hur supporting his hands in prayer, whilst below the Israelites struggled for the mastery, teaches that lesson. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Stone of Israel (Gen. 49:24; Matt. 21:42), and the Apostle Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Phil. 4:13). Moses represented the Law, Aaron the priesthood, and Hur, who was a prince of Judah, the civil power of Israel. The Lord Jesus Christ is our Lawgiver, High Priest and King. God has appointed him as our mediator (1 Tim. 2:5), and prayers offered in his name, He will answer (Jn. 16:23).

LESSONS FOR US:

• Though Israel was delivered from Egypt through the blood of the slain lamb and by baptism in the Red Sea, they had yet to endure the perils of the wilderness before entering the Promised Land.
• Each point in their journey taught them fresh lessons of their dependence upon God and these lessons point forward to the redemp tion to be wrought through Christ: €
• The healing tree of Marah has obvious connection with the cross of Christ (Gal. 3:13).
• The picture of Elim is what will yet happen to Israel in the Kingdom of God.
• As "bread from heaven", the manna stood for the Word of God dispensed by Jesus Christ, the daily study of which is necessary to fit us for the Kingdom of God.
• The smitten rock symbolized Jesus Christ "the Stone of Israel" (Gen. 49:24; 1 Cor. 10:4), "who was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification" (Rom. 4:25).
• Moses, when flanked by Hur (of the royal tribe) and Aaron (the priest) mediated for Israel with his hands outstretched to God, and the Amalekites were driven back. Christ is the antitype and ever liveth to make intercession for us in our warfare against the flesh (Heb. 7:25; 1 Tim. 2:5).
• Whilst faith in what God reveals will help us, and hope in Christ will give us a vision of the future, God's help is needed to sustain us in the way. This help is given in answer to prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ.

REFERENCE LIBRARY:

"The Visible Hand of God" (R. Roberts) € Chapter 15

"Elpis Israel" (J. Thomas) € Pages 294-295

"The Wilderness of Life" (J. Martin) € C.S.S.S. Study Notes

"The Story of the Bible" (H. P. Mansfield) € Vol. 1, Pages 290-312

PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:

1. The bitter waters at Marah were healed. What lessons does this inci dent teach us?
2. How was Israel's encampment at Elim a vision of the Kingdom of God?
3. Explain briefly the spiritual lessons taught by the provision of Manna.
4. In what way was the smitten rock in the wilderness typical of Christ?

ESSAY QUESTIONS:

1. What lessons do we learn from the experience of the Israelites after they had crossed the Red Sea and before they arrived at Sinai?
2. In what way was the Manna in the wilderness a type of Christ?
3. Explain how Israel's victory over the Amalekites revealed the power of prayer.

Section 4

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE KINGDOM

With their enemies destroyed, and they themselves delivered by demonstrations of miraculous power, Israel could never doubt that it was Yahweh Who had made them, preserved them and to Whom their loyalty and devotion were due.

The privileges belonging to the priestly nation, however, were condi tional upon its continued loyalty to the truth. In order to develop this loyalty the Law of Moses was given, the Tabernacle was set up, priests and Levites were appointed and a sacrificial code instituted that bound Israel to Yahweh daily, weekly, monthly and yearly.