Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of GOd in my hand. So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek adn his people with the sword. Exodus 17:8-13
Depending on God is a daily, moment to moment active lifestyle that we have to choose all the time. We depend on God by prayer and being obedient to God. In this passage, the Amalek hadn’t been mentioned as a nation, Amalek is a name marked as descendents of Esau. It seems They became predominant people in the Simaitic peninsula. They don’t meet the name in the Egytians records though. There is a possiblity that they were among the hostile nations that were dealing with Egyptians. Israel and the Amalek fought.
Joshua, which means the Lord saves or Yehweh is Savior. Joshua fights, Moses prays with the rod raised. Moses was so tired of holding the rod up. We humans are not strong enough to carry such a burden on our own. God is the only one. His hands are still stretched out.
It was Moses praying that held the strength of the battle. Moses holding up his hands to Gd showed he was dependent on God. Israel’s strength and victory depended on their faith in God. They showed this by prayer and obedience. In this war, when Moses stopped praying, God’s power stopped. This is what can even happen to us today. If we stop praying and depending on God, his protection, blessing, and favor will leave us.
We also need to be willing to be supporters in holding one another up when one is in battle. Just as Aaron and Hur helped hold up Moses arms, that is what we should do for one another in prayer. Our only hope in victory is to keep depending on God.
Do you get weary of the daily battle of prayer and obeying God?
Do you have christian friends that you can call on when you are weary?
Do you depend on God?
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you that you have the strength to keep going when we do not. I pray that we will continue to stand firm in you and depend on you in all things. I pray that you send others to help us when we are weary.
In Jesus Name
Amen
