Devotional Series
God’s Word is a lamp to our feet, it is He who guides and leads us in the way that He has chosen. Come share the Word of God with us.
Exodus 17:8-13 Moses victory in battle
Scripture:
“Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand”. So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword”.
Observation:
The people of Israel under Moses, were in the wilderness near Rephidim. They complained to Moses of lack of water. Under God’s instruction, Moses and some of the elders proceeded to Horeb where Moses struck the rock resulting in water gushing out. As this was happening, Amalek attacked the stragglers of Israel.
As we read through these scriptures, we see key qualities that were crucial to victory in the battle that the children of God were to win.
When God looks for men to wage war to advance His kingdom, He calls men who are prepared for the battle. Moses instructed Joshua to choose men to represent Israel and God, to go out and fight against the heathen nation. These men would have been proven by life’s trials and testing, faithful to their calling, skilled in the Word of the Lord, and submitted to God and Moses’ leadership. Moses’ plan was for himself to take his position as intercessor between God and Israel to pray for strategy and victory. Here we see Moses standing in the gap.
Moses went to the top of the hill; to a place that was above the battle; to a place that would bring him closer to God, separate from the people. He also brought the staff of God in his hand. The staff represents God’s authority and power, working with a man. The scripture is clear that Israel prevailed when Moses’ hands were raised; the rod in itself did not bring the victory. It was not mystical but an instrument used by God to release His people’s faith and trust in Him. As Moses’ hands became heavy, it was Aaron and Hur, those men that Joshua had chosen, who supported him. They placed a rock under Moses to sit upon as Moses became weary. So it is under New Testament, Jesus is our rock. He is with us in our battles, having already won the victory at the cross.
Application:
:We see several types in this incident:
- Amalek represents the flesh
- Joshua represents Jesus leading us in the battle against the flesh
- Moses, on the hill with his arms raised with the rod of God above his head, flanked on either side by 2 men –– represents Jesus crucified between two men
- The rod in Scripture represents power — so God was the source of Moses’ power
Just as Moses on the hill with his arms lifted up allowed Israel to prevail against Amalek, so the crucified Christ allows us to prevail against our fleshly enemy of sin and death.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you that I am never alone in the battles of life, that you raise up a standard when the enemy comes in like a flood, that You are my high tower and refuge. It is You, my God, who gives me strength to defeat my enemies. It is You Who raise me above the battle to see victory. When I am weak, You are strong, I praise You for Your goodness, Your mercy, and Your grace. In the name of Jesus, victory is mine.
Be an open vessel (life, mind, heart) for the Lord to pour in, pour out a continuous stream of Himself to others through you! The fullness of God in us. This is our reasonable sacrifice.
