EXODUS 17:8-16 THEN CAME AMALEK There are lessons to learn that often come right after great blessings have been received. What a relief it was to have an abundant supply of "spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." There were also others following them who were cutting off the stragglers at the back of the great host of Israel [De.25:17-18]. Over the previous centuries the Amalekites had come south as the Assyrians became a stronger nation. Those people killed for pleasure and raided other settlements for plunder. They were a fierce nomadic tribe and in the Israelite culture the greatest insult was to call someone "a friend of Amalek." The normal course to Canaan would not have taken the Israelites through the area where the Amalekites lived, but the Lord had His plans to carry out.
The flesh doesn't always make an all-out assault on a child of God. Amalek is a type of the flesh and began to assault the people of God a little bit at a time. One or two things would not have seemed as offensive as an assault on the whole company. The deceitfulness of our flesh may not seem all that serious when we are first tempted. We are inclined to yield one or two small things to the pressures of society. It is easier to be like other people "so we can win them." God's intention is that they be like His people rather than the other way around.
In the divine providence of God, He had allowed the Israelites to thirst and then supplied them with water from the Rock that they would learn where their strength would come from when Amalek attacked. God Himself would be their strength. The bread from heaven and water from the Rock would give them assurance, courage and confidence when faced with their first foe outside of Egypt. The world is one enemy. The flesh is another that begins to "smite the hindermost" when they were faint and weary. Now refreshed with "spiritual drink," the quiet, confident composure of Moses who prepared their resistance against this new enemy, affects all of those around him. This first mention of Joshua (Savior) introduces us to a man in whom Moses had full confidence. The courage of the untried and undisciplined soldiers would have been unexplainable except for the fact they had just experienced the power of God bringing water from the Rock. We are able to overcome the flesh when we have taken spiritual food in to strengthen us, and spiritual drink to refresh us. God's power is evident when a person has been experiencing God's presence and God's provision.
With calm assurance, Moses instructs Joshua to pick out the best men for the fight. We must never underestimate the evil and power of sin that seeks to control us and manipulate our lives. Moses knew his role was to be on the nearby hill where all the warriors could see him holding up the rod of God in supplication and faith. Fellowship with others, Aaron and Hur, in times of fleshly struggles, is a very important part of bringing victory. We are unable to deal with sinful flesh alone. The combined strength of united fellowship has power with God. By now the people had confidence in Moses' leadership and they respected his authority. They had followed him out of Egypt and through the Red Sea. They had eaten the bread from heaven. They had seen him cut the tree and put it in the bitter water of Marah that became sweet. They had water following them that flowed from the Rock Moses had struck with the rod of God.
Now instead of complaining about the conflict, those chosen warriors in great courage, followed Joshua against those who had ruled the desert for years. The Amalekites didn't realize who they were up against. God used His people to accomplish the goal He had. The uplifted rod of faith was the key to victory that day. Untested warriors were used as tools in the hand of the Great Captain to overcome the enemy. The altar raised up after the victory would remind the people of God they were marching and fighting under the banner of the highest possible Authority. Uplifted arms and clean hands are still the key to victory over the flesh today. Unshakable faith in God, His plans and purposes, prevail over the deceitful enemy of our flesh. Faith is an affirmation and an act that makes truth a fact.
The altar Moses built would testify to all the Israelites they were under the authority of Jehovah-Nissi. Joshua also in his first test of leadership, would have looked beyond his guidance of the warriors to the rod of God in the hand of Moses and realized it was God who had given the victory. When we look beyond human strength and human will to God, we will find where our strength and joy really is. We joy in God Himself.
Israel, the church in the wilderness reminds us of who we are. In ourselves we are weak - in the Lord God is our strength and power. He had guided us here, and will give us victory over our foes. The enemies: the world, flesh and the devil - always will God's people oppose.
But we eat of the bread from heaven to give us strength from day to day. We drink spiritual drink that follows us to quench thirst along the way. The Rock that was smitten is our Lord Jesus when He died upon the cross. The life that flows to us from Him today assures us we won't be lost.
So, victory is assured when we lay claim to God's full provision. There is nothing more we need to be conquerors then what is already given. The Father is for us to answer our prayers, the Lord Jesus brought victory. The Holy Spirit and the Word provides the power to maintain our liberty.
"Father, I thank Thee for the assurance that all I need to maintain happy fellowship with Thee has been provided. Even when the enemies attack I am grateful there is victory in Jesus. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."