Thursday Night Bible Study

Exodus 17:8-16 (Click title for audio access)

“Battle Of The Flesh” • 1.13.11 • Calvary Christian Fellowship, Thursday Night Bible Study

Intro.

- We finished looking at the first portion of this chapter last week. God brought the children of Israel into a place with no water and tested their resolve to believe Him for His provision.

- The people complained and fell short, but in His grace and faithfulness, God provided for their needs anyway.

- He provided water that came from a physical rock. Today in that area of the world, there remains a location that archeaologists believe was the very rock.

- But that rock to us is Jesus Christ, who, when we drink of Him, living waters will flow from our lives. It's the promise that resource for our needs will flow from within and then out to those in need.

- That's the life that Jesus died to give to us: A life that is connected to Him and that is meant for the refreshment of others.

- Tonight, we'll look at the first enemy of Israel and really, the first of our enemies, as we seek to live out this life of Christ's.

Text

• Exodus 17:8 : "Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim." : Amalek was a nomadic tribe that moved itself throughout the area of Israel’s sojourn.

- It's unfortunate for the Israeli's that they encountered them, as they were warmongers.

- Amalek, the person, was the offspring of Esau's son Eliphaz, therefore, this tribe was related to what had become the people of Edom.

- The Amalekites initiated this conflict with the nation of Israel in Rephidim. We'll talk more about the particulars later on in the passage.

- This is the seminal battle in a war that will last throughout the Old Testament. The Amalekites are the first nation to oppose Israel post-Egypt.

- They will be marked by how they began this war. It was in this place of rest that they attacked.

• Exodus 17:9,10 : "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." : When this nation came up against the people of Israel, Moses called out to a man name Joshua.

- This is our introduction to Joshua, who seems to come out of nowhere, but is later called Moses' assistant. On this day, he is called to lead the battle against the Amalekites.

- Notice that this represents a policy change for the people of Israel. Moses decrees that the people are to fight against this hostile enemy tribe.

- You will recall that God had taken the people down a route that would avoid war with the Philistines because at that time, they would have been tempted to go back to Egypt.

- They are now much further down the road and are now called to fight. It is time that the people of Israel learn the art of war.

- You have to like Moses' position though. He has the pastoral art of delegation down. "I'll just head up to that hill while you guys fight!"

- If I were Joshua, I might've said, "Could you at least leave that trusty rod of yours!?"

- Moses is hardly excusing himself from the action. He was past the age of 80. Maybe it was wise for him not to fight.

- This had been a man intent on delivering Israel one Egyptian buried-in-the-sand-at-a-time! He had been a warrior.

- Josephus, the Roman historian, speaks of the great battle skill of Moses. Even at his advanced age, Moses could have directed the battle from a closer position.

- The best use of his skills were far from the battle field. He was going to the top of the hill to intercede for the warriors in prayer.

- It seems that the spiritual lesson is fairly clear. Moses, having been a man of war and a warrior himself, understands that the battle that was being waged, could not be won without prayer!

- His greatest contribution to the victory would not be the lending of his hands to the sword, but the raising of his hands to the Lord!

- This begs the question: How vital are our prayers? What value can we assess to that discipline in our lives? How much do we trust to prayer?

• Exodus 17:11-13 : "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." : When Moses was interceding, with hands raised to the heavens, Israel gained an advantage.

- They were strengthened as he lifted his hands in prayer. But the opposite happened when his hands came down.

- If this is a picture of intercessory prayer, it sure is a powerful one! As Moses stood to prayer, the people were strengthened.

- He did not strengthen them by encouragement or by providing a plan. They were strengthened by his prayer!

- It's difficult to know from the perspective of the intercessor how things are going, but I have experienced being in a battle and seeing unnatural strength.

- There have been times when I felt the power of the Lord to resist temptation or to fight a particular intense session. I can only attribute that to the power of people's prayers for me.

- Now, the opposite was also true. When the hands came down, Amalek began to prevail. When we start to feel sapped, could it be from a lack of prayer protection? Maybe.

- Historically, Moses was fighting to hold his hands up in prayer. They became heavy. The word in the Hebrew can mean "massive" or "oppressive."

- We might think ourselves a little better equipped with all our modern exercise, but just try to lift your hands in prayer for three minutes. See how that goes!

- Intercession, properly done, is a difficult assignment. It takes much from you mentally. Staying at it is not a given.

- Thankfully, these men, knowing the importance of Moses' stand, made sure that fatigue did not keep Moses from lifting his hands!

- They gave him something to lean on and then stood on both sides of him, making sure that he held his place.

- The final outcome was never in doubt, but Joshua defeated Amalek. That was a by-product of prayer! Please note that the real emphasis of this story is the prevailing power of prayer.

- There are no real details of the battle, save the turning of the tide when Moses faltered. The record shows that it was prayer that won the day.

• Exodus 17:14-16 : "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.' And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner; for he said, 'Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.'" : This battle set the stage for the Amalekites extinction. One might wonder why? The Israelites won the day.

- It seemed like an even fight, at least from the perspective of this narrative.

- However, this was a much more heinous act than is recounted here.

- Turn over to Deuteronomy 25. Moses gives greater detail there in that chapter of what happened here in this chapter.

• Deuteronomy 25:17-19 : "Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God. Therefore it shall be, when the Lord your God has given you rest from your enemies all around, in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance, that you will blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. You shall not forget."

- According to extant sources, the Amalekites came from 1400 miles away just to attack Israel. It was pre-meditated and hateful. There was no warning and no reason for the attack.

- The Amalekite attack was heinous, cowardly and lacking in any respect for God! They viciously took advantage of the situation and sought to destroy God's people.

- Because of that, God decreed their extermination. The Amalekites are forever the enemies of the Lord and the people of Israel would forever engage in those battles against them.

- Moses built an altar that day and called it "The Lord is my banner." If archeologists are correct, that rock and altar remain there today.

- One final note about the Amalekites. Most scholars believe that Amalek represents a type of the flesh. The flesh represents our earthly desires, that which appeases our natural appetites.

- As Christians, we are committed to a life that is righteous. Our flesh is committed to a life of natural desire, whether that be physical or mental.

- With that as the background, please note how this chapter breaks down.

- The Rock, symbolizing Christ, was smitten, speaking of the Cross. The rock produced streams of living water and saved lives that drank from it. The same is true of Christ.

- This people of Israel represent new Christians, experiencing the life that God intends His people to have.

- What comes next in the narrative? The flesh and it's cowardly ways, coming after the tired and the weak, which are peak seasons for our flesh to shine.

- The beautiful thing is that Joshua was sent in to win the war. Jesus has won the war on our behalf and ultimately conquered the penalty that our flesh has incurred.

- However, there is a continual battle. How did they win? Moses stood praying and when His hands were lifted high, the people prevailed.

- Today, right now, Jesus stands in heaven, interceding for you and I and thankfully, His arms never tire!

- As for the relationship between the believer and the flesh, God says that there is no bargain, no peace and no tolerance for the flesh!

- God is at war with your flesh and He wants you to be at war with it as well!

- Someday, when we get to heaven, our flesh will be a distant memory, as God will have saved us from the presence of sin.

Conclusion

- God is at war with our flesh. Our provisions are there: His life within us, His presence in prayer and His promise to utterly win the war.

- I remind us tonight that there is no easy victory. There is no surrender. We must fight as well, but we fight knowing that with the Lord, we cannot lose!