- 69-
probability, is regarded as that on which Mosesstood when lifting up to heaven his
hand that held the rod, while in the valley itself Israel foughtagainst Amalek. As a sort
of background to it we have a huge basin of red rock, gneiss andporphyry, above
which a tall mountain-peak towers in the far distance. Turning the other way
andlooking south, across the battle-field of Rephidim, the majestic Mount Serbal, one
of the highest inthe Peninsula (6,690 feet), bounds the horizon. On either side of it two
valleys run down toRephidim. Between them is a tumbled and chaotic mass of
mountains of all colors and shapes.Lastly, far away to the south-east from where
Moses stood, he must have descried through anopening among the hills, the blue
range of Sinai.
But before us lies the highland valley of Rephidim itself, nearly 1,500 feet above the
level of the sea.Here in close proximity, but in striking contrast to sweet groves and a
running river, are all aroundfantastic rocks of gorgeous diversity of color, white
boulders, walls of most lovely pink porphyry,from the clefts of which herbs and
flowers spring and wind, and gray and red rocks, over which itliterally seems as if a
roseate stream had been poured. In this spot was the fate of those whoopposed the
kingdom of God once and, viewing the event prophetically, for ever
decided.Wonderful things had Israel already experienced. The enemies of Jehovah had
been overthrown inthe Red Sea; the bitter waters of Marah been healed; and the wants
of God's people supplied in thewilderness. But a greater miracle than any of these - at
least one more palpable - was now to bewitnessed, for the purpose of showing Israel
that no situation could be so desperate but Jehovahwould prove "a very present help in
trouble." That this was intended to be for all time its meaning toIsrael, appears from
the name Massah and Meribah, temptation and chiding, given to the place, andfrom
the after references to the event in Deuteronomy 6:16; Psalms 68:15; 105:41, and
especially inPsalm 114:8. The admonition (Psalm 115:8) "Harden not your heart, as in
Meribah, as in the day ofMassah in the wilderness, when your fathers tempted Me,
proved Me, and saw My work," refers,however, primarily, to a later event, recorded in
Numbers 20:2, and only secondarily to theoccurrence at Rephidim. At the same time it
is true, that when the children of Israel chode withMoses on account of the want of
water in Rephidim, it was virtually a tempting of Jehovah. Judgmentdid not, however,
at that time follow. Once more would God prove Himself, and prove the people.Moses
was directed to take with him of the elders of Israel, and in their view to smite the rock
inHoreb (that is, "dry," "parched"). God would stand there before him - to help and to
vindicate Hisservant. And from the riven side of the parched rock living waters flowed
- an emblem this of the"spiritual rock which followed them;" an emblem also to us -
for "that Rock was Christ." (1Corinthians 10:4)
It was probably while the advanced part of the host were witnessing the miracle of the
Smitten Rockthat Amalek fell upon the worn stragglers, "and smote the hindmost, -
even all that were feeble," -when Israel was "faint and weary." (Deuteronomy 25:18)
(^)