God's solution was to tell Moses to take the elders of Israel with him to the rock at Horeb, where God Himself would stand before him.
When Moses was overwhelmed by the people's threat and cried, "What shall I do to this people?" God did not give him another human plan. Instead, He instructed Moses to take the elders and the rod, go ahead of the people, and watch God stand on the rock. The elders served as witnesses, and God provided the answer.
Exodus 17:5-6 — Here God directly answers Moses' desperate cry by instructing him to take the elders and go to the rock, where God Himself stands before him.
In Exodus 17, Israel murmured against Moses because there was no water. Moses cried to the Lord: "What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me." The Lord answered, "Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink." Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
Les Feldick recounts that when the people threatened Moses, he cried out to the Lord, and God answered with a specific command: take the elders of Israel and the rod, go before the people, and proceed to the rock at Horeb. God said, "I will stand before thee there upon the rock." Les emphasizes that this was a direct word from God, in contrast to Jethro's earlier advice, which Les describes as "strictly a man speaking in the energy of the flesh" with "the Lord out of the picture." Les also notes that "the rock is Christ," showing that God's solution was ultimately rooted in His own provision through Christ.
God told Moses to "take with thee of the elders of Israel" and to go ahead of the people. The elders were brought along as witnesses of what God would do. As the text records, "Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel." Les points out that this was God's design, not a human arrangement.
In the clip, Les observes that Jethro's plan to appoint able men sounded logical and had "nothing basically wrong" with it, yet Jethro was not speaking for God. Les stresses that "the Lord is out of the picture here completely." God's later instruction at the rock stands in sharp contrast because it was a direct "thus saith the Lord" that involved His own presence.
Les explicitly says, "Rock is Christ," when reflecting on the wilderness events. Thus the solution to Moses' distress at Horeb was not just a miracle of water but a foreshadowing of Christ as the provider. God standing on the rock underscores that the burden ultimately belonged to Him, not to Moses.
Jethro's Advice: Man's Plan, Not God's
Les explains that Jethro's organizational advice was given without any word from the Lord and was 'in the energy of the flesh,' even though it sounded good. This shows the contrast with God's later direct instruction.
The 3-Day Journey: How Exodus Foreshadows the Resurrection of Christ
And in chapter 4, once again, we'll come down to verse 29, where we now know that Moses and Aaron have been joined together, because when Moses cried about the fact that he didn't have a tongue and he couldn't speak, God, in His anger, said, Well, I'll let Aaron be your mouthpiece. And so consequently, this is what brought the two gentlemen together. Remember, they're brothers.
What Saves You? Head Knowledge vs. Heart Belief
Why pastors would just be beside themselves, wouldn't they, if they would actually have to tell their people, hey, quit giving, quit giving. We got more than we know what to do with, but that's what happened here. I mean, this finally gets to the place where Moses says, don't bring any more. We've got all we can handle. Verse 1, chapter 36, "...
Paul's Vision of Heaven & the Jerusalem Council Explained
You remember that Moses, when he was the second man of Egypt, and he had all the power and the pomp and the circumstance of Pharaoh behind him, he thought he could lead children of Israel out, but God couldn't use him. But where did God send him? To the backside of the desert to herd sheep for 40 years, and then as a lowly shepherd, probably kind of smelly, now God could say, Moses, I want to send…
God's Answer: Take the Elders to the Rock
When Moses was ready to be stoned, God told him to take the elders and the rod and go to the rock, where God said He would stand before him. This is the direct solution to Moses' burden.
Why Moses Was Forbidden From the Promised Land — The Real Reason
I mean, how would you feel if all of a sudden the Lord could just somehow speak to you and say, well, all right now, Les, get ready. You've got about three more days, and that's it. I'm going to bury you. Well, that was Moses. He was just as human as we are. And this is what God told him. And he's writing it before it happens. And he said, the day's approach, that thou must die.
The Rock Is Christ
Les reminds his audience that 'Rock is Christ,' connecting the wilderness rock to the Messiah.
Why Israel Rejected Moses — And Then Rejected Christ
So when he was 40 years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel. Now here again, this is the first time that Moses will approach the children of Israel as their deliverer. Now of course, God was not in it specifically here. God did not instruct him.
Exodus 17:5: And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go.
God's initial command to Moses provided a clear path forward that involved the elders as witnesses.
Exodus 17:6: Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
This verse records the heart of God's solution: God Himself would stand on the rock, and the elders would see the provision.
God told Moses to go before the people with the elders of Israel and the rod, and to go to the rock at Horeb. God said He would stand before Moses there. The people drank water from the rock (Exodus 17:5-6).
Les points out that Jethro's plan sounded logical and wasn't basically wrong, but God never spoke through Jethro. It was human advice given in the energy of the flesh. God's later answer at the rock was a direct word from the Lord.
Les Feldick says 'Rock is Christ.' So the solution to Moses' burden points to Christ as the provider and sustainer.
Watch the Teaching: Christ the Rock: Spiritual Warfare & The Battle with Amalek