Justin Houtz

Exodus 17, Luke 23

DateVersionReading Plan
March 8, 2025ESV (2016)OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027

Exodus 17

Observation

Exod. 17:2-3 – The people quarreled with Moses over having no water to drink. Moses replied by asking them why they test the LORD but the people thirsted, grumbled against him and asked why he brought them out of Egypt. The quarreling and grumbling of the people revealed the embittered and ungrateful disposition of their hearts.

Exod. 17:8-16 – Joshua is introduced as Moses called on him to fight against Amalek. Moses first told Joshua to choose men to fight with Amalek and then told him that he would stand on the top of the hill with the staff in his hand. The LORD did not give Moses specific instruction to use his staff in this way, but Israel prevailed while Moses’ hand was raised. The TGC provides further insights by saying, “The symbolism was clear; the Lord delivered his peopole as they prayed to him for help, so Aaron and Hur stood besides Moses, holding up his hands (Exod. 17:12).”

Application

The water that poured out of the rock at Horeb and the victory over the Amalekites demonstrated the LORD’s favor for His people despite their faithlessness in quarreling and grumbling. The stark contrast forces us to confront the inconsistency of our faith and to acknowledge the steadfastness and utterly boundless grace of our LORD. This is not to give license to continue in sin, but an admonition to the saints to rejoice in His unshakable work of redemption, thankful that our failures will have no deleterious effect on our LORD being glorified.

Luke 23

Observation

Luke 23:6-7 – Pilate asked whether Jesus was a Galilean and sent Jesus to Herod upon learning that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction. As the TGCBC says, Pilate “thought he had found an escape route for himself. Galilee was Herod’s jurisdiction, and so Pilate tried to avoid any further involvement in this case by turning Jesus over to Herod.”

Luke. 23:25 – Pilate released Barabbas who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he delivered Jesus over to the will of the people. The repetition of what Barabbas had done to cause his imprisonment serves to underscore the jilted hearts among the people in choosing to release him over Jesus.

Luke 23:28-31 – The BBC is helpful in clarifying Jesus’ address to the daughters of Jerusalem:

A crowd of sympathetic followers wept for Jesus as He was led away. Addressing the women in the crowd as daughters of Jerusalem, He told them that they should not pity Him but should pity themselves. He was referring to the terrible destruction that would descend on Jerusalem in A.D. 70. The suffering and sorrow of those days would be so great that barren women, hitherto an object of reproach, would be considered especially fortunate. The horrors of the siege of Titus would be such that men would wish for the mountains to fall on them, and for the hills to cover them.

Luke 23:40-43 – One of the two criminals that were to be crucified with Jesus rebuked the other criminal who had railed at Jesus. The man “came to understand the difference between his own guilt and Jesus’s innocence (this man has done nothing wrong). He also realized that Jesus was the Messiah and asked to take part in his coming kingdom. Jesus assured him that, after death, he would immediately be reunited with him in paradise” (CSB Notes)

Luke 23:55-56 – The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee saw where Jesus was buried and returned to prepare spices and ointments and on the Sabbath rested according to the command. They would return to the tomb with the spices they had prepared but were obedient to the command to rest on the Sabbath.

Application

It is remarkable to read of the admission of guilt by the criminal and his earnest request to be remembered by Jesus when He went into His kingdom. By this, he models for us a heart of contrition, succumbed to the reality that we stand as condemned and guilty before a holy and righteous God. May our posture be of likewise confession, understanding the due reward for our deeds and living in gratitude that by the sacrifice of Christ and propitiation of our sins we have been granted entry in to His kingdom.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are sovereign and holy, worthy of all honor and praise. Thank You that You remain steadfast and that Your plan can never be thwarted. Help me to daily appreciate Your unwavering goodness and strive to glorify You in all that I say and do. Thank you that by the blood of Your Son, we have been washed clean of sin and guilt and can dwell with You forever as sons and daughters of the King.

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