The reason the redeemed Israelite people are allowed to suffer thirst, disappointment & hunger is "for the Lord to test them" (15:25, 16:4, cf Deut 8:2-3, 1 Peter 1:6-7)
The response God has asked for from those whom He provides for is obedience, faith and thankfulness. God tests the Israelites as to their obedience, looks for their faith in trusting God will provide at the right time and thankfulness for His provision. All of this is another example of His grace, when they have been grumbling.
The significance of the two events in ch 17 is found in the final sentences of both sections.
in v1-7, it is a time when the Israelites are asking the question "Is the Lord among us or not?" The answer comes back a resounding "Yes!" The second section is a reminder that the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation. One is about the people of God and the other is about the enemies of God.
In chapter 17, we are reminded that prayer is the vital link in God's hearing, changing circumstances and answering prayer. Prayer is the upholding of heavenly arms towards Almighty God. This incident was to be remembered throughout history - God is with those who call upon His Name.
God brought Moses & Jethro together. Ultimately, His Sovereign plan was going to come to fruition. But, to bring it together, He used His people. Moses had to be teachable & listen to Jethro, Jethro needed to come with humility. We need to remember that God uses different people to bring about His purposes and that no one person can do everything by themselves.
The leaders who were going to be delegated responsibility needed to be capable men, representing all the people, who feared God, were trustworthy and hated dishonest gain. Similarly, in the NT, we read of men who are full of the Spirit and wisdom, people full of faith (Acts 6:1-4). The question needs to be asked of our leaders & whether they have similar attributes.
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