Untitled Sermon (2)

Exodus 17:8-16

Exodus 17:8-16 “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. Tomorrow 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, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The Lord Is My Banner, saying, “A hand upon the throne of the LORD! The LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

Background and history of the Amalekites

Timing and location of the battle at Rephidim.

Amalekites are a people group defined by raiding parties.

They are continual enemies of Israel

1 Samuel 15 is a confrontation with Amalekites where Saul is told to exterminate the people outright for their affliction on God’s chosen people. Saul lets Agag the king live and keeps the best of the livestock for himself.

In Esther, Hamman, one that seeks total destruction of the Israelites is called an Agagite. The offspring of king Agag the Amalekite. Saul’s actions got him taken off of the throne and replaced by David, but they also put Israel at risk for destruction.