The Life of Moses (13)

The Lord had been so faithful to His people. He fed them with manna, and they did eat it for forty years until they came to a land inhabited. After God started to send manna, they journeyed “according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.” Then we see again how soon the people of Israel began to murmur against Moses but, actually, against the Lord. The people were even almost ready to stone Moses. However, again the Lord provided. Moses had to smite the rock in Horeb. He did so and water came out of it that the people might drink. The name of the place where this occurred, he called Massah and Meribah. The names mean, respectively, Massah—tempting; Meribah—quarreling. How sad that Israel so often rebelled against the Lord and His servant.

A treacherous enemy

Israel had said, “Is the LORD among us, or not?” God had proven that He knew their condition. We read in verse 8, “Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.” Amalek was the grandson of Esau, and now his descendants treacherously attacked the traveling people in the wilderness. We read about Amalek in Deuteronomy 25:18a, “How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary.” Amalek chose to attack those who were walking at the end of the long procession of Israelites—the older people and women with their children—attacking those that were tired and weak. Amalek showed the enmity that was already seen in the conflict between Esau and Jacob.

In spiritual warfare, the devil often also attacks the wilderness travelers, God’s people, when they are tired and weak. He knows their weakest places. For one that may be money, for the other honor or lust, and for yet another a tendency to be soon downhearted. It has been expressed that “the adversary is a student of six thousand years,” and he has studied mankind long enough to know where to attack him.

How remarkable it is that Exodus 17:8 begins with the word “Then”—it was when God had delivered them and removed an impossibility for them. The wilderness is not a land of rest, and when one does not expect it, suddenly, or in a subtle way, the enemy assaults them.

Then Moses gave a command to Joshua to choose men “and go out, fight with Amalek.” Joshua did as Moses had told him.

A fierce war

Joshua had to be in the valley at the head of these people to fight the enemy. However, Moses, Aaron, and Hur “went up to the top of the hill.” There Moses had to stand with the rod of God in his hand. Down the hill a fierce battle took place. Joshua was the captain; his name meant, “The LORD’s salvation.” Sometimes, Israel prevailed, but, at other times, Amalek seemed to gain the victory. There was a battle at the bottom the hill but also a struggle on the top of the hill. Moses had the rod of God in his hand and had to hold it up with his hand; as long as he could do this, Israel seemed to prevail, but “when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.”

If we truly are a wilderness traveler, we must expect mighty opposition. Jehoshaphat said, “For we have no might against this great company that cometh against us.” Thus, it is experienced by those warriors who have to contend with three mortal enemies—the devil, the world, and, also, their own flesh. We read of this warfare in Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” How will weak creatures ever be able to stand in such a warfare? In verse 13 the apostle points to the armor they need, “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” The apostle then describes this armor. There is the breastplate of righteousness, there is the shield of faith, and there is the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. It is the Holy Spirit who enables the weak struggler to be able to stand in this warfare.

Moses had the rod of God in his hand—why was that? The rod was a reminder of the wonders God had wrought. For instance, there was the miracle by the Red Sea, when a path was made through the water. It was as if Moses’ uplifted hand showed the rod to remind the Lord of what He had done for His people and to their enemies. The Lord does not forget what He has done, but a needy supplicant may sometimes point the Lord to what He has spoken and has done in the past. “God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it?” Balaam said this in Numbers 23:19a. The Lord will give deliverance even if the battle is fierce and the enemies are mighty.

Aaron and Hur

When Moses’ hands were heavy and he let them down, the battle did not go well for Israel. However, the Lord provided support in the fierce struggle on the hill. We read in verse 12b, “And Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands.” They placed a stone for a seat so that Moses could sit down, and they held up his arms. It is a blessing when the Lord gives Aarons and Hurs to His servants and to all who at times have to carry heavy burdens. God’s servants and people are so weak in themselves that it often looks like the enemy will certainly have the victory. Aarons and Hurs who may feel these burdens may carry them up on the wings of prayer before the throne of God. However, the greatest wonder is that there is One who fights the battle for them. He has obtained the victory on Golgotha; He is mightier than the fiercest enemies and can deliver in the most dangerous situations.

Moses’ hands now “were steady until the going down of the sun,” that is, until the battle was finished. Christ will never cease to pray, to intercede for His weak and fearful people. His prayer is not just pleading but He has a right to a favorable answer. He prayed for Peter that in the hour of temptation his faith would not cease, and so Peter was kept even after his sad denial.

A final victory

The battle may seem to be endless and the outcome from our side very uncertain. However, the Lord will preserve His own work, and the enemy will not have the victory. We read in verse 13, “And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.” It was a long day of a fierce struggle, but God did not let His people perish by the sword of Amalek. He still will not do this with His undeserving people although they often grieve Him. The poet sang in Psalm 3:3, “But Thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.”

Moses then built an altar and called the name of it, Jehovahnissi, that is, “The Lord is my Banner.” God has sworn that He will continue His fight for them. In Him alone, those who know the true warfare will be more than conquerors. Christ, the greater Joshua, is also on the battlefield today. The Church is sometimes driven into a narrow corner. We may wonder what the future will bring, but He will safely lead His Church into the promised land, the heavenly Canaan. Therefore, we read in Psalm 4:8b, “For Thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.” How true it is! Blessed are they who put their trust in Him.

(To be continued)

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