The Amalekites attack Israel

The Amalekites came to Rephidim and fought with the Israelites. The Amalekites were a formidable tribe of nomads living in the area south of Canaan between Mount Seir and the Egyptian border. The Amalekites are a constant thorn for Israel and speak of the ongoing war we wage against the flesh.

Eliphaz, son of Esau (Jacob’s brother) and his concubine Timna had a child named Amalek. Esau was carnal and sold his firstborn birthright for a bowl of stew. Amalek grew up in Esau’s household, imbibing Esau’s pathological hatred of Jacob’s descendants along the way. His offspring became the nation of Amalek, and they lived to the south of the Land of Israel, in what is now known as the Negev Desert. The Amalekites were brutal people and sought to ambush from behind and wipe out Israel as they had done to many nations. See Deuteronomy 25:17-18.

Israel prevails in battle as Moses prays

Moses commissioned a young general named Joshua to lead a select group of warriors to fight against Amalek. He told Joshua he would stand on a hill above the battle with the “staff of God” in hand. Up until this point God had been doing everything for the Israelites but now, they needed to take some responsibility. It would take their minds off grumbling and bring them closer together. Moses will pray and Joshua will fight!

Joshua went to battle, and Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses held up his hands, the Israelites would prevail, but whenever he put his hands down, Amalek would start winning. When Moses got tired, Aaron and Hur held his arms up. Joshua defeated the Amalekites.

Moses’ hands are strengthened in prayer

Moses has his hands up towards God and he requires two pillars to do that – Aaron and Hur – to help orient yourself properly. You will win if your orientation is up, and you will start to lose if you lose it. Moses can’t physically keep his hands up for long enough on his own. This is a war, and he needs help from others. Moses will later need to create a hierarchy to look after all these people. This is the beginning of passing the baton from Moses to Joshua. Joshua is the man of action and Moses the man of attention. This is the same Joshua who spies out the land and returns with a favourable report. Joshua (To save) is a type of Christ. Joshua will be the leader who will take them into the Promised Land.

The Amalekites will be a thorn in the side of Israel

The Amalekites had a special guilt and shame in their attack against Israel.

• They had the shame of being the first nation to declare war against Israel
• They had the shame of going out of their way to attack Israel
• The had the shame of actually fighting against God

This was not the last battle with or mention of the Amalekites. God continued His war against them but gave them much time to repent of this great sin of attacking their cousins. Divine judgment was upon them.

The last mention of the Amalekites is found in the book of Esther where Haman the Agagite, a descendant of the Amalekite king Agag, connives to have all the Jews in Persia annihilated by order of King Xerxes.

Moses built an altar and called it “The Lord is My Banner.” Moses is told to transcribe what happened so that future generations would know that the battle was not won with the sword in the valley of interaction but through prayer on the mount of intercession!

Categories: Exodus