Exodus | Reading Plan + Study QuestionsSample

EXODUS 17

GOD PROVIDES WATER FOR THE ISRAELITES

The Israelites complain about not having water, so Moses asks God for help again. God tells Moses to strike a rock with his staff. Moses does this, and drinkable water flows from the rock.

Another tribe, the Amalekites, attacks the Israelites, so Moses asks Joshua to go and fight for them. Moses knows that when his staff is raised, the Israelites will be victorious, but when the staff is lowered, the Amalekites will prevail.

Moses attempts to hold up the staff for the entire battle but grows weary. When Moses is too tired to continue, Aaron and Hur hold up his arms for him until the sun goes down. The Israelites win the battle! Aaron and Hur holding up Moses resembles Simon helping Jesus carry the cross in Mark 15.

Moses writes down everything that has happened, so he is able to tell Joshua. He builds an altar and calls it “The Lord is my Banner!”

Joshua was the personally appointed successor to Moses and a great warrior who led Israel in taking the land of Canaan after the Israelites left Egypt.

STUDY QUESTIONS

God tells Moses to record the events of the battle with Amalek. Why do you think God wanted Joshua to hear and remember what happened?