Exodus 17:8-17 Study Guide: the Battle Belongs to God

Community Group Study Guide — The Battle Belongs to God
Exodus 17:8-16

Study Information:
Israel’s accusation against God, in Exodus 17:7, was “Is the LORD with us or not?” God answered that accusation by protecting them from an attack from a hostile enemy nation. Israel’s first military battle came as they were camped out at Rephidim waiting to move towards Sinai and displayed the necessity for physical action and God’s power for their victory. Likewise, in Exodus 17:8-16 and Exodus 18:1-27 we read about how Moses hit his own physical weakness and had to lean on other godly leaders for support. This leadership lesson would become incredibly valuable to Moses as he faithfully shepherded the people of Israel. 

Sneak Attack
Exodus 17:8-9
Israel was camped out at the same place they were in the previous text, Rephidim. Let’s remember the pillar of cloud and fire would set out and move if they were to follow, so God had them waiting here on purpose. Their camp was attacked by Amalek who was a nomadic nation formed from Esau’s descendants, meaning they were a related people group to Israel but also incredibly hostile. It could be that Amalek was threatened by this large group of escaped slaves, turned refugees, camped out in their territory but rather than offering aid or warning they attacked. Deuteronomy 25:17-19 recalled this event highlighting that Amalek attacked from behind. Typically the people in the back were the weakest and most vulnerable in a traveling party, so it appears to highlight Amalek’s cruelty and that this attack was unexpected and unprovoked. 

Israel responded quickly and mounted a counterattack the next day. The text gives us our first mention of Joshua, who became Israel’s military general and later Moses’s successor. Joshua organized men to respond to the battle and Moses took a position on the hill top with the “staff of God” in his hands. Keep in mind that Israel was not a trained army, though they had weapons. They’d be at a distinct disadvantage and would only have victory if God gave it to them. 

Staff, Sword, Support
Exodus 17:10-17
Moses knew that he needed to rely on the power of God so he went, staff in hand, to the hilltop. Moses took a posture of prayer and praise with his hands lifted high, staff up, just like so many previous times when he followed God’s commands with the plagues against Egypt. Yet if you’ve ever watched reality tv shows like Survivor, you know how hard it is to keep your hand raised high even with nothing in it. Over time his arms wearied and started to droop and each time the battle would go against Israel. Moses needed to persist in prayer and dependence on God with his arms high if the people of God would know that the Lord was among them (Exodus 17:7). To solve the problem of the tired arms, Aaron and Hur got Moses seated on a stone and they shared the weight by holding his arms high. The result was Joshua and Israel overwhelming Amalek. 

This first victory was memorialized in two ways. First, God told Moses to write down this account with the promise that God would utterly blot out Amalek. This promise of judgment is in line with what God promised Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3, that any nation that cursed the people of God would be cursed. Another interesting thing to note is that this is the first mention in the Bible of scripture being written down. Second, Moses built an altar of remembrance to God calling it the name “the LORD is my banner!” Their victory came from God, through their army. 

Though it is unlikely you’ll have to deal with an Amalekite sneak attack in your life, we do learn some really important things about God’s character and our Christian lives from this passage. We see the need for the Staff, the Sword and Support as we follow Christ. 

The staff shows us Moses’s dependence on God’s divine power. This was demonstrated in prayer, praise and the weariness he experienced while seeking God’s favor in this battle. The sword shows us the practical battle that took place between the armies. Men died and wives become widowers that day, but instrumental to the victory was the physical battle being fought. Finally, the support came from other godly leaders and faithful followers of God in the battle. Joshua leading the army and Aaron and Hur supporting Moses arms so he could fulfill his role in seeking God’s favor in the victory. We need to understand that it is normal for God to call his people to rely on him and he equips them through his divine power.  

This theme of the power of God and practical actions is all throughout the Bible and most notably in Philippians 2:12-13. Paul instructs the church, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (ESV)” We’re called to “work out” as God “works in.” We fight sin, pursue godliness and to live wisely BECAUSE God is at work in us to will and to work for his good pleasure. Faithful living is always a mixture of godly action and godly dependence. 

The people of God are always under pressure and that can come in the form of persecution, fighting against sin or the challenges of living in the world. Many of us probably identify with the Israelites who were fighting the battle, looking to Moses and to God for victory. Passages like this teach us of our need to pray and that in our human power we’re limited and in desperate need of God as we try to put into practice what he taught and commanded. In Christ we have a secure love from God, access to his throne of grace where we come as children to a Father and King, and we have the gracious power of God at work in us to will and to work for God’s pleasure. 

At your community group:
Take 15-20 minutes to share about how God has been at work in your life, prayer concerns and pray for one another.

How did God speak to you through the scripture and the sermon this week? 

Discussion Questions:
Read Exodus 17:8-16

How does this passage answer the Israelites accusing question from Exodus 17:7? 

What are some reasons God gave them salvation through the sword (practical action) and the staff (prayer and the divine power of God)? 

Read Philippians 2:12-13. Do you think people are inclined to rely on their own power for growing in Christ and following God’s commandments or are they inclined to see it as something that is just God’s job? Which have you leaned towards most recently? 

How have you experienced support from strong Christian friendships in your pursuit of following God?

What examples do you have of God calling you to practical action but also trusting in him and seeking him in prayer? What are some steps you can take this week to grow in seeking God as you follow his commands?