the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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Exodus 17
Water from the Rock
1 All the people of Israel left the Desert of Sin, traveling from one place to another as the Lord told them. They set up their tents at Rephidim. But there was no water for the people to drink. 2 So the people argued with Moses, saying, "Give us water to drink." And Moses said to them, "Why do you argue with me? Why do you test the Lord?" 3 But the people were thirsty there for water. They complained against Moses, saying, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and animals with thirst?" 4 So Moses called to the Lord, saying, "What should I do with these people? They are almost ready to throw stones at me." 5 The Lord said to Moses, "Pass in front of the people and take some of the leaders of Israel with you. Take the special stick in your hand with which you hit the Nile, and go. 6 See, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb. When you hit the rock, water will come out of it and the people will drink." And Moses did so, with the leaders of Israel watching. 7 He called the name of the place Massah and Meribah because of the arguing of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord, saying, "Is the Lord among us or not?"
War with Amalek
8 Then Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim. 9 So Moses said to Joshua, "Choose men for us. And go out and fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the special stick of God in my hand." 10 Joshua did as Moses told him. He fought against Amalek. And Moses, Aaron and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 When Moses held up his hand, Israel would be winning. But when he let his hand down, Amalek would win. 12 Moses' hands became tired. So they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on each side. His hands did not move until the sun went down. 13 So Joshua destroyed Amalek and his people with the sword.
14 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Write this in a book, to be remembered, and tell Joshua that I will take away everything under heaven that would help you remember Amalek." 15 Moses built an altar and gave it the name The Lord is My Banner. 16 And he said, "Because the Lord has promised to have war against Amalek through all time."
