Staying In The Battle Together: Exodus 17:8-16

Introduction:

This is an Old Testament event, that teaches us a New Testament Lesson.

With in this message it is going to be a message to some as an rebuke and to some an encouragement. To some this message will be an exhortation to start something, and to some a message of exhortation to keep doing something.

Israel is heading to the Promise Land, and they are forced with their first encounter with an enemy.

I. The Battle: vs. 8

Amalek: This name means a people that lick up.

These were descendants of Esau. Amalek is the grandson of Esau.

Notice how the attack is described:

Deuteronomy 25:17–19 “Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt; 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; and he feared not God. Therefore it shall be, when the Lord thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget it.”

The 1st place that the enemy attacked is where the most feeble was.

The Handicapped, the helpless, the stragglers, the sick, the aged, and the weary.

We are to in Battles as we travel to our Promised Home:

Notice what the Bible says about the Enemy:

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.”

We must not ever forget who the Enemy is. Our enemy is not each other, it is the devil who come to:

John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

II. The Burden of the Battle: verse 10-11

Often times we miss this important truth:

It was customary for the Jews’s to lift up their hands when they prayed:

Psalm 28:2 “Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, When I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.”

Psalm 63:4 “Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.”

It wasn’t Moses that was empowering Joshua and the army. It was God who was empowering them!

They were prevailing over the enemy, because of the power of prayer.

This was not so much as a psychical battle; as it was a spiritual one:

Deuteronomy 34:7 “And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.”

so the cause wasn’t physical. True intercession is a demanding activity. To focus your attention on God and “pray without ceasing” can weary you as much as strenuous work.

Even though we know that there is great power in prayer, and victory is won through prayer… we still often times get overcome by the Burden of prayer!

III. The Brethren: verse 12-13

The Placing:

Notice where Aaron and Hurr placed Moses, on a Stone.

This is a picture of Christ.

When we see our fellow brothers, and sisters begin to grow weary and tired, we need to help get them to Christ.

The Providing:

The Battle could not have been won if it was not for these men getting involved in carrying the burden.

Joshua could not succeed without Moses, Moses could not succeed without Aaron and Hurr.

The Passion:

Oh, how we need to have the same passion of others that Aaron and Hurr had for Moses.

When is the last time that you went to one of you brothers and sisters in Christ and helped them bear the load of their battle?