June 22, 2025
DAILY BIBLE READING
Exodus 17 – Water from the Rock – Victory on the Mountain
How God provides in times of drought and grants victory in battles
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Bible Text – Exodus 17 (KJV)
1 And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the Lord, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.
2 Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the Lord?
3 And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?
4 And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.
5 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go.
6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
7 And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among us, or not?
8 Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.
9 And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.
10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
12 But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
13 And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
14 And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.
15 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:
16 For he said, Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.
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Introduction
In Exodus 17, we encounter one of Israel’s most well-known crises in the wilderness: thirst. A desperate situation is followed by a supernatural miracle – water from the rock. But the story continues: a physical need is followed by a hostile attack. Amalek strikes, and Israel must fight.
This chapter combines two key experiences on the journey with God: provision in times of need and help in battle. It shows how God gives not only grace but also victory – when we trust Him and act together.
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Commentary
1. Crisis in the wilderness (Verses 1–7)
- The people are exhausted, thirsty, at their limit.
- Instead of trust: quarrel, accusations, despair.
- Moses becomes the target – nearly stoned.
- God’s instruction: The rock is struck, water flows.
- The place is named: Massah (testing) and Meribah (quarreling).
Spiritual lesson:
- God provides – even in moments of mistrust.
- The rock is a picture of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 10:4).
- Trust is tested in times of need.
2. Battle against Amalek (Verses 8–13)
- A new enemy: Amalek attacks Israel – unexpectedly.
- Strategy: Joshua fights in the valley, Moses prays on the hill.
- Victory depends on Moses’ raised hands.
- Teamwork: Aaron and Hur support Moses.
- Victory comes through community, prayer, and trust.
Spiritual lesson:
- Battles are decided spiritually – not just physically.
- Prayer is a source of strength; visible success often comes from unseen intercession.
- Community is essential – no one fights alone.
3. Remembrance and promise (Verses 14–16)
- God tells Moses to record everything.
- Future perspective: The enemy will be destroyed.
- An altar is built: “The Lord is my Banner” – a sign of victory.
Spiritual lesson:
- Remembering helps us believe.
- God’s guidance is not just for the moment but has eternal consequences.
- The Lord fights for His people – from generation to generation.
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Summary
In Exodus 17 we see two key themes of our faith:
Provision – God brings water from the rock where, humanly speaking, nothing is possible.
Battle – Victory over Amalek happens not just through strength but through faith, prayer, and cooperation.
God is not only our provider but also our banner in battle. He calls us to be faithful in need and to trust in conflict.
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Message for Us Today
God sees your wilderness – your thirst, your fear, your doubts.
Jesus is the struck rock, from which living water flows – for your heart, your daily life, your future.
In your battles, you are not alone. Your “Amaleks” – fears, doubts, conflicts – can be defeated through prayer and spiritual community.
Believe together, carry together, win together. That is heaven’s principle.
And in the end, this remains true: The Lord is your banner. You don’t fight alone – He fights for you.
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Reflection Questions
Who holds up your arms when you can’t go on?
What do you rely on in the wilderness – accusation or trust?
Where can you be an Aaron or a Hur for someone today?
God is writing history – and you are part of it, if you walk with Him, trust Him, pray, and stay faithful.
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June 22 – 28, 2025
WEEKLY SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING
Ellen G. White │ Patriarchs and Prophets – Chapter 13
The Test of Faith
Read online here
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Introduction
Abraham – the father of faith. And yet, his faith wasn’t a static possession, but a journey shaped by challenges, doubts, and divine tests. In Chapter 13 of Patriarchs and Prophets, it becomes clear: true faith proves itself not in the easy times, but in the difficult ones.
God tested Abraham with a command that is almost impossible to comprehend: “Sacrifice your son, your only son, whom you love.” This story is not just an ancient tale about a man long ago – it is a mirror reflecting our own journey of faith.
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Commentary
1. The Beginning of Doubt (Hagar and Ishmael)
- Abraham accepts God’s promise – but does not wait patiently.
- Sarah’s suggestion to take Hagar as a wife is a human solution to a divine promise.
- Consequences: unrest, jealousy, brokenness in the family, mockery, and rejection.
Lesson: When we replace God’s timing with our own methods, we create conflict, not solutions.
2. God’s Promise Stands (Isaac is born)
- Despite human mistakes, God renews His promise.
- Isaac – the child of the miracle – becomes the center of the covenant.
- Ishmael and Hagar are sent away – with divine comfort, but not without pain.
Lesson: God’s plans prevail, even when we take detours. His faithfulness remains constant.
3. The Great Test – The Sacrifice of Isaac
- Abraham receives the hardest command: Sacrifice your son.
- Inner struggle, silence, prayer – no excuses, only obedience.
- Isaac shows willing obedience – he is not forced, but trusts.
- At the last moment, God intervenes: a ram is sacrificed in Isaac’s place.
Lesson:
- Faith without works is dead (James 2:17).
- God tests to strengthen – not to destroy.
- Obedience is rewarded – even when we don’t understand everything.
4. God’s Covenant and Prophetic Meaning
- God confirms His covenant with Abraham through an oath.
- The ram as a substitute offering prophetically points to Christ.
- Even angels gain deeper understanding of the plan of redemption through this scene (see 1 Peter 1:10–12).
Lesson: This story is a prophetic shadow of Golgotha.
God gave what Abraham did not have to give – His only Son.
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Summary
Chapter 13 shows: Faith doesn’t mean never doubting – it means trusting despite the doubts.
Abraham’s life is a journey from impatience to surrender, from human solutions to divine obedience.
The greatest evidence of his faith was not words, but action. And in that obedience, God’s grace is revealed: He saves – through a sacrifice He Himself provides.
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Message for Us Today
God doesn’t test to destroy, but to strengthen.
True faith is shown in action, not in talk.
Obedience to God may cost sacrifice – but it is never in vain.
God’s timing is better than our own impatience.
Our trust in God often becomes most visible when we understand the least.
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Reflection Question
What would you do if God asked something “incomprehensible” of you?
Are there “Ishmaels” in your life – human solutions trying to replace God’s promises?
How is your obedience shown today – even when no one sees it?
Do you know the God who provides “a ram” for you – the solution, when you are ready to trust?
Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/22-06-2025-exodus-chapter-17-believe-his-prophets/
