26/9/2021 [Thematic Message 134] www.lifechurchmissions.com
Victory with One Heart during Internal Turmoil and External Threats <Ex 17:1-16>
Prelude: Regardless of the kinds of organizations or the masses we are looking at, it is often difficult to be united when faced with internal and external afflictions. We have seen that the COVID situation has begun to be more widespread in Singapore. The country is facing the pressure to prevent the spread of the virus while also maintaining the country’s economy, but the people are complaining that the government’s response has been slow and did not have good prior planning to manage the increase in number of cases. In the midst of all this, the nation's leaders are facing increased pressure. Often, this is also the state of the church. Even if the church is led by our Almighty Lord, the greater the challenges and greater the needs of people, the more the voices of grumbles in the church. Of course, this also stems from the weakness of our human nature. In a church, not everyone has enough confidence to withstand the oncoming challenges. Even if they can face them for a while, they may not be able to face them for a prolonged period. Even if they can overcome a one-time difficulty, they may not be able to overcome different types of difficulties. For example: When the church continues to gather physically for meetings during the pandemic, there will definitely be a risk of infection. Or when the church increases the number of meetings due to the pandemic, there will be more and more people to care for and shepherd, it will definitely bring about an increased burden in serving. In these challenges, we still have to take care of our individual family and work. These needs are also very real. In particular, in the last era, the rise in external afflictions is inevitable. A piece of negative news will immediately cause anxiety, but internal worry is even more unbearable. Yet in internal and external afflictions, we must remember that the Bible gives us answers in three areas. First, if God has given us a difficulty, God will definitely lead us through it. In the temptation we are experiencing, God will provide a way out so that we can endure it <1 Co 10:13>. His grace is sufficient for us, for His power is made perfect in weakness <2 Co 12:9>. Therefore, when the increased pressure comes, we should not give in to the difficulty, let alone take in negative and helpless thoughts. The Lord guides us in good times and in adversity. Second, the Bible also tells us that there is no challenge that comes without a reward later. <Ps 126:5> promises us, “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.” God promises the eventual victory so that we can be strengthened in the tough process of the battle, and not be discouraged and give up. Finally, the Lord wants saints to go through challenges together with one heart, instead of dragging each other down in the midst of it. When the Philippian church faced external persecution, Paul persuaded them, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved -– and that by God.” <Php 1:27-28>. Sometimes, in internal and external afflictions, we continue to put our concern on when the problem will end. But God is more concerned about the process, in particular, how we who belong to the Lord can stand firm and strive as one for the faith of the gospel. Possibly, this pandemic will pass soon, but more importantly, in this process, how do we help, complement and mutually edify one another for the sake of the gospel? This is the most beautiful victory in the eyes of God.
1. How did God solve the problem of people not having water to drink?
1) When the people of Israel encountered a situation where there was no water to drink, they grumbled against God
Many believers think that if they obey God, there won’t be problems and all will be smooth sailing. But the Scripture here shows the opposite. Here, the whole Israelite community moved on from the wilderness according to the Lord’s commandment. They reached and camped at Rephidim, and faced the situation of having no water to drink. This was intentionally arranged by God to test His people, primarily to see their responses so that they could know the faithfulness and salvation of God. As a result, the Israelites started quarrelling, and grumbled against Moses for bringing them out of Egypt. It was like testing God (despising the salvation and guidance of God). Often, this is also our condition, and the condition of all churches. The no-water situation resembles the external challenges faced by the church. The grumblings of God’s people are like divisions within the church. This is the internal and external afflictions that often attack the church. Actually, a lot of believers often fail in these 2 areas. Firstly, they carry some illusions as they follow God, thinking all will work out according to their own ideals. Secondly, they start grumbling when they run into trials. This is putting God to test.
2) However, God did not rebuke the people directly, instead, He instructed Moses to strike the rock so that water would come out for the people
When the Israelites were testing God by grumbling against Moses, God neither rebuked them directly nor punished them. Instead, God instructed Moses to use the staff (representing God’s power) to strike the rock, and through this, fresh and sweet water came out of the rock and satisfied the people’s thirst. This appears to be a very easy thing, yet it contains very important spiritual meaning. Why did God want to provide water to the people through Moses’ striking of the rock? Here, the rock is a foreshadow of Christ, and Moses represents the law, and the living water foreshadows the Holy Spirit. When Moses struck the rock, it was a foreshadow of Christ who would come in future for His people, who would be struck and judged by the law. Because of His suffering, we can be exempted from the penalty of our sins, and receive the Holy Spirit (living water) <Jn 7:37-39>. The people did not deserve this. On the contrary, they had sinned and tested God, yet, God helped them out of His grace.
3) But God kept a record of this matter about Israelites’ testing of God and their quarrelling
God named the place “Massah” (meaning testing), and “Meribah” (meaning quarrelling). Is God being very petty? He seemed to have helped the people, but He still remembered their transgressions? Surely not! God recorded this so that His people would remember their sins, and they would not forget they are sinners who received grace, lest they went back to their old ways after receiving the grace of God. Martin Luther said, “We are simultaneously justified and sinner.” Here, God is not asking us to remember our sins in order to feel guilty. Rather, He wants us to know where sin increased, grace abounded all the more <Ro 5:20>. Today, many hypergrace teachings urge people to forget their sins, or another extreme will be to keep confessing sins and repent, causing one to be constantly bound by guilt. Actually, God does not want us to forget our sins easily so that we will not trample on His grace. Therefore, even though Paul was so blessed for many years, he would constantly remember that he was the chief of all sinners, so that he would not forget the mercy of God <1 Ti 1:16>.
2. How did God help the Israelites have victory over the attacks of the Amalekites?
1) The Amalekites attacked out of sudden
After the Israelites had a crisis at Rephidim, the next challenge they faced was the Amalekites. It came one after another. Here, the Israelites had just been liberated from their thirst, and now a group of enemies came to attack them. This reflects our Christian faith living. Our purpose of life in Christ is not to ask for a safe and secure life. On the contrary, we are prepared for battles, and in all the challenges, we learn to rely on the Lord to be more than conquerors. The Amalekites who came to attack them were the descendants of Esau. At this time, the Israelites might remember the prophecy God gave to Rebecca about her two sons, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger” <Ge 25:23>. Therefore, as the battle approached, the Israelites had two options, one was to be overwhelmed by fear and again be anxious and grumbled against God, or they could confirm that this was the fulfilment of God’s promises. Praise the Lord! The leader of the Israelites, Moses, recognised that this was the fulfilment of God’s promises and led Israel to victory.
2) Israel showed us the physical and spiritual battles
The scripture talks about the physical battles. From this perspective, Joshua followed Moses’ instructions to choose men to fight against the Amalekites. In a battle, everyone is focused on the battle scene, especially the commanders and warriors. But we must understand that the battle strength and outcome of Joshua and the Israelite army was dependent on Moses’ prayer, or in other words, spiritual battle. This is the way to victory that God had determined for them. The people in the frontline put in their best to fight, but actually the outcomes depended on the earnestness of Moses’ prayers. Therefore, the Bible said that as long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning; when Moses lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. Indeed, very often, we did not have enough heart to pray, and we did not rely, confirm, entrust, test, approve and call on the Lord enough. Therefore, we do not see physical victories.
3) Moses needed the help of co-workers
Often, we will think that those fighting in the frontline has it tough, but actually it is just as tough for those who are praying. Therefore, the Bible mentioned that when Moses’ hands grew tired, Aaron and Hur took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. In the end, Joshua had complete victory. Actually, what does it tell us? Did God bless Israel only because of Moses’ action of lifting up his hands? What God wanted was the sustained earnestness of Moses. However, we will understand that a single person’s earnestness is limited. Because we are humans, we cannot sustain our earnestness indefinitely. Our burning hearts for a moment will turn into discouragement because of fatigue and surrounding challenges. Therefore, if we are to fight a prolonged spiritual battle, our hearts must be provoked. We need the co-workers beside us to support, encourage and complement us, to provide information and all kinds of help, so that we can continue to have effective prayers before the Lord. In other words, in this battle, God not only wanted the earnestness of Moses, but also the help of Aaron and Hur. As the church deals with the challenges and increasing demands of the pandemic, and though many weak brethren will enter into a state of helplessness and grumbling, God is looking at the unity of the leaders, especially how they stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel. If that is the case, this was revealed in the actions of Aaron and Hur as they held up Moses’ hands. Actually, God has predetermined that His people will have victory, but He wants us to have the victory together in one heart, not as an individual’s victory. In the problem of lack of water, the Lord used the “smitten rock” (Christ) to satisfy Israel. However, in the later battle with the Amalekites, God used the support of Aaron and Hur in Moses’ prayer (labour together with one heart) to bring about victory. In facing internal and external afflictions, we must understand the mystery of receiving victory through the unity of the saints.
3．God gave complete victory to the Israelites
1）God will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven and be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.
The Amalekites were completely humiliated before God. Because by ancestry, they were originally the relatives of the Israelites, yet they became enemies with the Israelites, and were the first nation to go to war with Israel. They were defeated before the Israelites, and they were the nation which God will be at war against from generation to generation. This tells us that God dislikes all teachings which are closer to the church and very similar to the gospel yet not the gospel. This is similar to many modern teachers or churches which open the Bible yet preach a different gospel. Indeed, the Lord’s hands are at war against them from generation to generation. What they preach certainly cannot triumph over the gospel preached by churches which truly belong to the Lord. The spurious gospel preached by such false teachers also cannot triumph over what is preached by preachers who are faithful to the Lord’s word. In every era, the Lord will raise up godly people like Moses, Joshua, Aaron and Hur to defeat the false teachers.
2）Moses built an altar and called it Jehovah Nissi
Jehovah Nissi means “The Lord is my banner”, or it can be said that the Lord is my “victory”. But today, too many preachers and believers misuse this term. The victory they want is confined to the outward achievements and enjoyments of this life which are valued by man. What they preach is the prosperity gospel which God detests, instead of the gospel of carrying their own cross to follow the Lord. Here, Moses built an altar after the victory and called it Jehovah Nissi, to highlight that “true victory is to co-work and labour with the Lord, then share in His victory”, instead of pursuing one’s own idealistic victory. By the support of Aaron and Hur, Moses held up his hands painstakingly and tirelessly to cry out to God; through his prayers, God also made Israel victorious. Think about it, after the end of this pandemic, can we truly proclaim the Lord is our banner? That depends on how we can stand firm in the pandemic today in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.