February 16, Day 47 – Scorned, Mocked, Tired, and Forsaken
- Dr. Eric Stricker
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
We have already witnessed the Israelites’ whining in the wilderness (cf., Exodus 16:2). Today, in Exodus 17-18, we see them “quarreling with Moses and grumbling against him” (Exodus 17:2-3). They ask him, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt?” (verse 3) – as if they had no interest in leaving Egypt. How foolish and forgetful they were (and sometimes, we are, too)! God provided them water from the rock that Moses was instructed to strike with his rod. Of course, this is a picture of Christ as our Rock – being smitten at His crucifixion – thus providing the water of life for us. Then, we read about the unprovoked Amalekite attack on Israel. At this time, the Israelites were vulnerable – with their backs to the sea and their faces toward their Amalekite enemies. As descendants of Esau (cf., Genesis 36:12), the Amalekites were the first foreign nation to attack Israel, and they were recurrent, persistent enemies toward the Israelites. Thus, they are enemies of God and tools in the hands of Satan. The defeat of Satan and his program requires divine intervention, and here, we see that. God intervenes, and He wants Joshua to take particular notice. The Amalekites will taunt Israel again in the future (cf., 1 Samuel 15:2-3).
In chapter 18, we see Jethro’s visit to Moses and his excellent leadership advice to divide the workload among other trusted subordinates. Before Jethro came, Moses must have been feeling pretty discouraged by all the Israelites’ complaints. Sometimes, it’s easy for us to feel discouraged or even abandoned – thirsty and without water in the desert of life – so we begin wrongly to argue and grumble against God. At other times, our own perspective prevents us from seeing a solution that others can readily see. We should learn to cultivate different viewpoints. Here, Moses was open to listening to his father-in-law, Jethro, who provides Moses some needed relief. Jethro’s advice proved invaluable. God is our ever-present Provider and Sustainer Who knows where the water is. He knows how to encourage us. We must continue to trust Him, for – “the LORD is our Banner” (Exodus 17:15).
Psalm 22 has deep special meaning for me. In reality, I first came to grips with this Psalm when I was in seminary, and I was overwhelmed by its prophetic references to Christ’s crucifixion. Reading this Psalm sometimes brings me to tears, as it reminds me of how our Lord suffered universally for us – because of our sin. I am so thankful for God’s mercy and grace to me! Jesus quoted from Psalm 22 as He was dying on the cross. It fully expresses His heart, his compassion, and his sadness. David must have felt very low when he wrote this Psalm. Thankfully, God is merciful, and we will never have to suffer like Jesus did. By the Word of God, He helps us get through our low moments.
Coming to Mark’s gospel today, we see Mark’s quote of Isaiah 40:3 to introduce John the Baptist, the forerunner of our Lord. Like John in Mark’s gospel, I also confess my own unworthiness even “to stoop before Him” (cf., Mark 1:7). “After John was put in prison, Jesus proclaimed, “The time has come. The kingdom is near” (verse 15). The kingdom is where the king is. Here we see the baptism and temptation of Christ, the selection of the first disciples, the exorcism of a demonic spirit, many healings (including that of a leper), and Christ’s interests in and need for solitude. These supernatural activities all serve the purpose of establishing Christ’s divine authority over both the spiritual and natural worlds. Moreover, as fully Man, Jesus knew firsthand what it’s like to be scorned, mocked, tired, and even forsaken – which goes way beyond what we must bear in this life. Daily, we should be thankful for His promise: “never to leave or forsake us” (cf., Deuteronomy 31:6).
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