We will now, beloved young Christian, in dependence on the teaching of the Holy Spirit, look at the lessons of Shur, Sin, and Rephidim (Exodus 15-17). We shall find each present a distinct, solemn, yet precious, lesson.
And first the Lesson of the Wilderness of Shur. “So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water” (Exodus 15:2222So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. (Exodus 15:22)). These are few words, but what a depth of meaning there is in them — so soon after the triumphant song of redemption, only three days’ journey from the place of death and deliverance — the Red Sea. And now to find no water. Have ye counted the cost? The cross of Christ, as separating us from the world, is a very solemn matter. “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:1414But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. (Galatians 6:14)). What was so debased and contemptible in the eyes of the world as a person crucified. And this was what the world was to the Apostle, and what he was to the world.
The three days’ journey very aptly illustrates the exact place into which the believer is brought. Dead with Christ and risen with Him. Yes, the three days’ journey, from death to resurrection, has separated you, my fellow-traveler, forever from Egypt, that is the world. But you say, It looks very strange that the redeemed, who had just been shouting the song of triumph, should be so soon distressed and find no water? Was not this just the way the young Christians at Thessalonica had been brought to God, “Having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy [Spirit]” (1 Thessalonians 1:66And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: (1 Thessalonians 1:6))? Now note, this is the first lesson after redemption; and if my reader has redemption through the blood of Christ, even the forgiveness of sins, do not be surprised if you find, the first journey you take in the wilderness, that there is no water. Nay, I believe this is a sure sign that you are redeemed. Do you find it so, or can you still drink of the world’s pleasures and be satisfied? Ah, if so, do not be deceived: you are still in Egypt, still in the iron grasp of Satan, who leads you captive at his will. Do not be offended if I tell you the truth. Must I not be faithful? Oh how many are thus going down to perdition, with a lie in their right hand! But with you, my dear young Christian, it is not so. The things that once so pleased you yield no satisfaction now. I cannot express it like Scripture. You find no water. Solemn lesson of Shur. The New Testament is very strong on this subject: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (Read 1 John 2:15-1715Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1 John 2:15‑17).) And again, “Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:44Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4)).
And when we think of the amazing price of our redemption, can we wonder that our separation from the world lying in the wicked one should be so entire? But at such a time, when you find no water, nothing to satisfy, then beware of murmuring.
And the next lesson of Shur is equally striking. “And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter” (Exodus 15:2323And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. (Exodus 15:23)). This was trying indeed — more trying than finding no water. How often this is the case with the young believer, aye, and the old one too. We grasp at that which we think will satisfy and only find bitter disappointment. Have you not found it so? Have you tried the pleasures, or the riches, or honors of the world, and only found bitterness? You are invited to a lavish party. Once this would have been very delightful; but now how bitter to the taste of the new nature. How utterly disappointed you return home. Have you set your heart on some earthly object? You are permitted to obtain it; but how empty. Yea, what you expected to yield such satisfaction only yields bitter sorrow and emptiness. Oh, beware of murmuring. Not one thing has happened to you but what is common to the children of God.
This world is a wilderness wide, where there is not a tree in it yielding satisfying fruit. But there is a tree. “The Lord showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet” (Exodus 15:2525And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, (Exodus 15:25)). Yes, “As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my Beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste” (Song of Solomon 2:3). Surely that tree is Christ. Ah, nothing can sweeten the bitter cup of this life, but sitting beneath His shadow. O what delight, what sweetness to the taste of the new-born babe! How simple then this second lesson of the wilderness of Shur. Are you, my young fellow-christian, beginning to find the waters of this life bitter? Come then near to Jesus: sit at His feet: His fruit shall be sweet to your taste: His words shall be sweeter than honey or the honeycomb. Are the things of the world sweet or bitter? Is Christ to you like the one precious tree, laden with sweetest fruit, where all beside is barrenness and waste? Then hearken to the precept of the Lord, to His people Israel. And note, this was before the law was given. And certainly it could have nothing to do with their redemption — that was all finished. So with you, my reader; if you are a believer, your redemption is as finished as theirs was. Your works can have nothing to do with that. Neither are you under law; but O how much present blessing depends on your hearkening diligently unto the voice of the Lord. He is a rock that can never be moved and His shadow the place of perfect security. But to sit at His feet, to hear diligently His words! And as He says, If ye love me, keep my commands. Not as a servant under law; but as a son, filled with the Spirit and moved by divine love. Yes, most precious and necessary is this obedience of faith.
Elim, was a sweet, green spot in the wilderness, with its “twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters” (Exodus 15:2727And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters. (Exodus 15:27)). This does so remind one of Jesus, in the midst of His twelve apostles and seventy disciples (Luke 9:11Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. (Luke 9:1); Luke 10:11After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. (Luke 10:1)). Wherever we see Him, He is the one to whom the thirsty may come and drink. May we ever encamp near the wells of living waters.
But I go on now to the Wilderness of Sin (Ex. 16). Every step in the journey brings out the utter worthlessness of man and the sovereign grace of God. The whole congregation murmur sadly: and they said, “Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh-pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger” (Exodus 16:33And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger. (Exodus 16:3)). This was very sad — but not more so than the terrible sin of unbelief that now so easily besets the believer. One would think, with such a bright future before us, we should have no lingering looks at the world behind. Well, and what was God’s answer to this murmuring? Amazing grace! “Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day” (Exodus 16:44Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no. (Exodus 16:4)). And now it is worthy of special remark, that the Sabbath of Jehovah’s rest was given before the law, in connection with the eating of this bread from heaven. It was first given to Israel as privilege, not by command, or on the principle of law. And here the people rested on the seventh day: and I am not aware of another single instance where the people rested on the Sabbath day. There is something very striking in this. From Adam to Moses, yea, to this very chapter, that is, for more than 2500 years, the Spirit never uses the word Sabbath, either in its root, or in any of its forms. And here, in the wilderness of Sin, it is God’s gift to His redeemed people, in perfect grace. And on the principle of grace, before the law is given, they rest on the seventh day. Immediately they are under law, the Spirit never once repeats the words, “So the people rested on the seventh day” (Exodus 16:3030So the people rested on the seventh day. (Exodus 16:30)). I would not have you forget that God expressly gave Israel the Sabbath on the ground of redemption — on that very account; as is declared, “And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out ... .therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day” (Deuteronomy 5:1515And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day. (Deuteronomy 5:15)). Thus they had the Sabbath because they were redeemed; but they only rested on it, or enjoyed it, by gathering the heavenly manna: and this on the principle of pure grace. Bread from heaven! Oh may the Spirit of God open the understanding of my reader to see Christ, the bread of life, in all this. Let it be well understood, that the only ground on which God gives rest to the guilty sinner is through the redemption blood of Christ. Yes; He looks on that precious Lamb “who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 4:25; 5:125Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)
1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)). “We have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:1414In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Colossians 1:14)). This gives peace. This peace is God’s gift in pure grace. As the Sabbath was God’s gift in grace to every Israelite, so this peace, this rest of God, is God’s gift to every believer who has redemption through the blood of Christ. But then you say, “If so, why do not I enter into this rest and enjoy peace with God?” To that question this lesson of the wilderness is a solemn reply. Manna was a type of Christ as the bread of life. The redeemed from Egypt fed upon it. But they gathered a certain rate every day. Is this the case with you, my reader? Are you gathering the sweet manna, Christ, every day, in His precious word? If you had no time to eat your daily food, would you wonder if you were soon out of health? If you have no time to gather up the crumbs of life in the precious word, is there any wonder that your spiritual life declines? Oh read the sweet words of Jesus on this subject! He says, “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst” (John 6:3535And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. (John 6:35)). Do you thus come to Him for your daily portion? Each Hebrew had an omer about five pints of manna; every man according to his eating. The greatest eater had no lack, and he that gathered most had none to spare. Just as with the lamb, every man according to his eating, so with the manna, every man according to his eating. Our deepest need as sinners was met by the blood of the Lamb; and the deepest, daily need of our souls is met, if feeding on Christ. No doubt it is very blessed, on the first day of the week, to meet together to break bread — to remember Jesus — to show forth His broken body — to take that cup which shows forth His shed blood — by that one loaf to express the one body of Christ. Indeed, I would press this. But there is the daily portion — the constant need of the soul for spiritually feeding on Christ. In so short a paper I can only ask you to read John 6:30-7130They said therefore unto him, What sign showest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? 31Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 32Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 36But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. 37All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. 41The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. 42And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? 43Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. 44No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 46Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. 47Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 48I am that bread of life. 49Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 52The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 53Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 57As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. 59These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. 60Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? 61When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? 62What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? 63It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 64But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 65And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. 70Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve. (John 6:30‑71) in connection with this subject.
How very simple then this divine picture. God gave the bread from heaven. The redeemed Israelite gathered it. “A small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground ... and they gathered it every morning” (Exodus 16:14,2114And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground. (Exodus 16:14)
21And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted. (Exodus 16:21)). “It was ... white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey” (Read Exodus 16:14-3114And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground. 15And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat. 16This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents. 17And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less. 18And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating. 19And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning. 20Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them. 21And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted. 22And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses. 23And he said unto them, This is that which the Lord hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the Lord: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning. 24And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein. 25And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day is a sabbath unto the Lord: to day ye shall not find it in the field. 26Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none. 27And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none. 28And the Lord said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? 29See, for that the Lord hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. 30So the people rested on the seventh day. 31And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey. (Exodus 16:14‑31)). O that precious, spotless Christ, so small and despised in the eyes of the world! But when the child of God gathers the manna in the morning, how refreshing the dew of the early dawn, as the Spirit reveals Jesus to the soul in the blessed word. And God gave them enough for the Sabbath, and so they rested. God has given you rest, my fellow-believer. Do you not enjoy it? Do you not rest? Then you have not gathered enough manna. Read the word more. Think more on Christ. If the Israelite exclaimed, What is it? well may you say, What is it? — Christ my portion.
Just as God gave them twice as much as they could eat, so they rested on the seventh day. Even so by the gift of His beloved Son He has more than met our utmost need. Thus they rested by gift; not by command. And thus in Christ we rest by grace, and not by works. Some did not believe, and went out to seek manna, but found none. So is it with us when ever we wander from God’s eternal gift.
There was a great difference between having the Sabbath and resting. There is as great a difference between having peace with God and enjoying that peace. Would you enjoy that sweet rest in God? Then gather the manna — feed on Christ. As the dewdrop contained the manna, so will the Spirit, take of the things of Christ and show them unto you. Oh would you rest? Then grieve not that Holy Spirit by whom you are sealed. The taste of the manna was like wafers made with honey. And what so sweet to the taste of a child of God as the fellowship of the Spirit in communion with Christ? Oh do, my young Christian, seek this holy, sweet enjoyment of Christ!
Does the prospect of being forever with the Lord gladden your heart? Then earnestly seek for much communion with Him in spirit while here below.
We will now look at the third stage of Israel’s journey — Rephidim. And again there was no water. Ah! it is hard for the flesh to bear this — to find at every step no water. Yet such is the journey of this wilderness. Think of the path of our precious Lord; and think what awaited his servant Paul in every city (Acts 20). And such is our path, my fellow-traveler, in proportion as we are true to Him.
And again (for the people were not yet under law) the Lord met their grievous murmurings in the fullest grace. The Rock in Horeb was smitten, and out came water that all the people might drink. Moses called the name of that place, Temptation and strife. Oh! my young traveler, when your heart is ready to murmur — when Satan whispers, You had better give up the journey, and return to the world — when every cistern fails — when you are ready to sink in temptation and strife — when your thoughts are all in confusion — ah! when Satan seems let loose against you — yea, when everything seems against you; oh! at such a time remember the Rock that was smitten for you. Yes, at such a time look off to Jesus. Was ever sorrow like His sorrow? and was ever love like His? You will be amazed to find wicked, unbelieving thoughts arise in your mind.
And “then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim” (Exodus 17:88Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. (Exodus 17:8)). Now, as this is the first and only battle of Israel while they remained under grace, before the law was given, it should be studied with the deepest interest by us, who are not under law, but under grace. I do not think this battle of Rephidim typifies our conflict with wicked spirits so much: that we shall get when we see Israel in the land of Canaan. But I rather look at this Rephidim as showing us a picture of the sudden attack of temptation through the lusts of the flesh. It was just as they said, “Is the Lord among us, or not?” (Exodus 17:77And 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? (Exodus 17:7)) — at the very moment of their doubting, “then came Amalek, and fought with Israel” (Exodus 17:88Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. (Exodus 17:8)). Nothing gives the enemy more power than to doubt whether we are the children of God or not; or to doubt whether He is with us and for us or not.
And now, my young Christian, this battle of Rephidim is a very solemn question. You will find that, though you have redemption through the blood of Christ — a child of God — have fed with delight on Christ the heavenly manna; yet, to your surprise, the lusts of your old nature are as bad as ever. That which is born of the Spirit has not altered the flesh in the least. If Israel had stayed in Egypt, they would never have fought Amalek. And if you had not the new nature, you would never have known this fierce conflict with the old nature. “The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot (or may not) do the things that ye would” (Galatians 5:1717For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (Galatians 5:17)). These are the plain words of God: and every child of God finds it so in his experience. What would he not do, were it not for the Holy Spirit, who dwells in him, preventing him from fulfilling the lusts of the flesh.
I must guard my young traveler against several mistakes when passing through Rephidim. And especially beware of a broad path that turns out of the way, called “sinless perfection.” This path leads to infidelity. Some would tell you that your old nature is changed, and that there is no sin left in your flesh, or carnal mind. This is a very flattering delusion, and for a time may lull you to false security. But when Amalek comes to fight; (though I sometimes think Satan knows better than to fight these deluded ones;) but when Satan presents strong temptation, and you find to your horror and grief that there is still an evil nature in you, so soon excited by his temptations; yea, at such a time you seem overwhelmed with the power of unexpected temptation. And especially if there, has been failure, then beware of the hard thrust of the deadly enemy, in trying to persuade you that you are not a child of God. Let this dark unbelief only take possession of your soul, and then where is your strength to fight?
But the battle of Rephidim. Read carefully these verses — Exodus 17:8-168Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9And 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. 10So 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. 11And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12But 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. 13And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. 14And 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. 15And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi: 16For he said, Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation. (Exodus 17:8‑16). Golden lesson for the young soldier of Christ. Some teachers would tell you, In the hour of temptation, your only safety is to try your utmost to keep the law. I once knew a young Christian, when fighting in Rephidim, as a last resource, write down all the denunciations and commands of God respecting the sin that so harassed him. But this helped him not at all. Nothing could be more striking than God’s teaching and man’s on this important point. Says man, You are under the law as the rule of life, and sin will surely have the dominion if you do not strive to keep it. Says God, It was the ministration of death, and is now abolished (2 Corinthians 3:7-147But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 8How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 9For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 11For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. 12Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: 13And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: 14But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:7‑14)); and “Sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:1414For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (Romans 6:14)). Thus you see, my young traveler, if you are led of man, you will be under law and bondage; “But if led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law” (Galatians 5:1818But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. (Galatians 5:18)). The contrast between God’s teaching and man’s is very striking, is it not? But, then, the question is, when passing through Rephidim, that is, through fierce temptation — tempted to commit fearful sins — If the law does not help me at such a time, but only excites lust still more — as is said in Romans 7:7-187What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 8But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 9For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 11For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 12Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 13Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. 14For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. (Romans 7:7‑18); I say, if the law does not help, what does? And what is the principle of victory over the lusts of the flesh? I look at the battle of Rephidim, I say, as a golden answer to this perplexing difficulty in the hour of need. To human reason, perhaps, nothing could be more foolish. There was no digging of trenches, forming parallels, or display of military skill; but Moses says, “I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand” (Exodus 17:99And 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. (Exodus 17:9)). “And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed” (Exodus 17:1111And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. (Exodus 17:11)). What a picture of the divine principle of prevailing faith! And especially valuable, as I have said before, when we bear in mind this is the only battle Israel fought, while on the principle of grace, and not as yet under the law. And, now, if my reader has traveled some length of the wilderness journey, let me ask him to turn over the pages of memory, and then tell me, as we say, is not this picture true to the very life? Just as your hands have been lifted up to God — just as faith has trusted Him, you have prevailed; and just as your hands have been let fall down — just as you have trusted in anything else but God, sin has prevailed. Thus the mighty principle of faith is set before us as the only means of victory in temptation. We never make resolutions but we fail and break them; and we never look alone to God but we are delivered. Do, my young Christian, remember the battle of Rephidim in the hour of temptation. Lift up your heart, and let the cry of faith go up to God. Perhaps you say, My heart is so heavy. And so were the hands of Moses. “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” (Exodus 17:1212But 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. (Exodus 17:12)). Now there are some very precious and important points of soul-sustaining truth set before the believer, in conflict, in this verse. It is of the greatest moment at such a time that you remember that great stone — nay, the Rock of Ages supports you. Oh to know that however the storm of temptation may assail, your feet are on the Rock that cannot be moved! Beware of those shifting sands, those unbelieving thoughts that you may be on the Rock today and off and lost tomorrow. Nothing can more tend to weaken the child of God, in the hour of sore temptation, than these false doctrines. No, my reader, if you have redemption, it is eternal redemption; if you have life, it is eternal life; If you are on the Rock, none can pluck you off forever. The stone, however, was not put under Moses that he might hang down his hands, but that they might be steadily held up. Neither would I put this blessed truth before you, or rather show you the Rock that sustains you, that you may become careless and cease to steadily trust in God for victory over lust and sin. No! but for the very purpose of encouraging your faith in the darkest hour.
But further, for the support of the heavy hands of Moses, Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side. And does not He whose name is Jesus, by whose death and resurrection we are justified, also make intercession for us. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for ... the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26-2726Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26‑27)). What divine strength this gives in the hour of strong temptation. There is the exalted Son of God, on the one side, that is, in the very presence of God, holding up the hands of faith, making intercession. And there is on the other side, that is, down here, in the believer, the Holy Spirit making intercession. How doubly held up!
But perhaps my reader may be sadly cast down — you may have been surprised by Amalek; perhaps you thought lust and temptation was all gone — you had pictured a path of sunshine: and so it is, if the eye is kept on Jesus. You may, however, have resolved to walk with God, and for a time all was smooth; but the sudden attack of the enemy took you by surprise, your hands were let down, Amalek, that is your sins, prevailed. Has Satan got an advantage over you? Has there been failure? I think I hear you whisper, little did I expect it, but I have sinned since my conversion, and now I am so unhappy. The brightness of noon seems to be turned into midnight darkness. Satan says, “I am not on the Rock now. The great High Priest passed into the heavens will not intercede for me now. The Holy Spirit does not make intercession for me now.” Stop, poor doubting one, do not listen after this rate to the enemy. Was not the Rock of Ages cleft for you? Is it not His very blood that has met all your sins, yea, washed them all away? And does not the Spirit say, by John, when writing on this very subject, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and He is the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 2:1-121My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 7Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 8Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 9He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. 12I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. (1 John 2:1‑12)). Are you His child? Have you sinned? Then think what is taking place in your Father’s presence. What an Advocate! Look at Him, and listen to His pleadings for you: He pleads His own blood. Do not these words meet your case — “If any man sin?” (1 John 2:11And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: (John 2:1)). Surely this is not that you may sin: but that you may not sin. But if you have sinned, the knowledge of your Advocate on high lifts up again the arms of faith, and, though Amalek has prevailed, you now prevail again. But perhaps you say, “If I have sinned, have I not grieved the Holy Spirit; and, consequently, has He not departed from me?” No; this is impossible now. The Holy Spirit dwells in you as the seal to the value of the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10; Ephesians 1). So that the blood of Jesus must lose its value before the Holy Spirit can cease to dwell now in the child of God. You may, yea, alas! how often we do grieve the Holy Spirit, by whom we are sealed unto the day of redemption. But one great distinguishing feature of the present dispensation, is that the Holy Spirit abides with us to the end. I have found this solemn fact one of the most sustaining truths in God’s word. The Apostle uses it for this purpose when writing to the Corinthians. (See 1 Corinthians 3:16-1716Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. (1 Corinthians 3:16‑17).) Do think of this when pressed hard by temptation, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:1616Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)). And see how solemnly this is pressed in 1 Corinthians 6:15-2015Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. 16What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 17But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 18Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6:15‑20). So really is the believer’s body the temple of the Holy Spirit, that if he goes on in sin, and thus defiles the temple, God cannot allow this; and if he refuses to judge and humble himself, and still further refuses to hear the Church, the temple must be destroyed; that is, this body must be dissolved. “For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep” (1 Corinthians 11:3030For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (1 Corinthians 11:30)). My reader may not have been aware of all this, but search the Scriptures and see if these things are not so. We have a watchful, powerful foe, surrounded by every manner of ensnaring temptation, and especially so to the young Christian; and still we have to wage war with deadly, hateful lusts. If left to ourselves, utterly without strength, to resist the least of them, how important then to know the Rock on which we stand: and to know that, on one side, we have the risen Lord; and on the other, the blessed Spirit, never ceasing to make intercession for us.
And as there was to be no compromise between Israel and Amalek, so let there be no compromise, my dear young reader, between you and fleshly lusts that war against the soul. From this day forward, even though Amalek may have prevailed; yes, though you may have failed and sinned, yet now may the Spirit of God show you the Advocate with the Father, pleading for you; and now may past failure and sin be confessed to your Father. You will find He is faithful and just to forgive you all sins and cleanse from all unrighteousness. He is faithful and just to the claims of your Advocate, and therefore you are forgiven and cleansed. This is as sure as you have, by His Spirit, made confession to Him. Do not omit this — if sin has prevailed confess it to your Father. And now, henceforth, may He give the reader and the writer the victory of faith. “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:44For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:4)). Thus the battle of Rephidim sets before us the blessed principle of victory over sin and the world. If my reader fights on the principle of law, you will be overcome; if on the principle of faith, you will overcome. And just as your hands hang down to one, or are lifted up to the other, will you fail or prevail. And you who have trod the greater part of the journey, I appeal to your hearts and consciences — Is it not so, just as we have looked to God we have overcome; and just as we have resolved to do our best we have failed. What years of sorrow a life of simple faith would save the child of God. Would you, my dear young Christian, then, spend your little while in holy, happy, devoted service to God, then have no confidence in the flesh — never trust self. Pray without ceasing — at all times and in all places. Remember, you are the temple of the Holy Spirit: He intercedes for you; the risen High Priest is your Advocate; God is for you. Though He chasten, it is because He loves you. Oh! Do not forget you are never safe from temptation a moment, except that moment is spent in trusting Him. How soon after the manna and rest, came temptation and Amalek. In seasons of richest blessing, when filled with Christ, the heavenly manna, and the heart at rest in God, yet even then how near to danger. How sudden the change to fierce and unexpected temptation. Oh! watch; pray; trust. “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever, Amen” (Jude 24-2524Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. (Jude 24‑25)).