The Battle Belongs to the Lord

The Battle Belongs to the Lord

Introduction (background)

As we come to the Book of Exodus chapter 17, we learn about the journey Israel in the desert. They were free from slavery in Egypt; they crossed the sea on dry land, saw the defeat of the Egyptian army when they pursued Israel. Though it a lesson of history these lessons do share us a lot for us in improving our lives and I would like to draw your attention to this passage and the topic of today, the battle belongs to the Lord.

When we look and study from the book of Exodus, we see how and what God is doing in the history of Israel, and there is a lot to apply for our own lives as well because He is transitioning, He is transforming our lives, and we need to change. God changed the Israelites and their lives and we see that we also need to improve, and change our lives accordingly. God brought them out of Egypt as slaves, but they need to learn a lot on how to function as God’s children, and not just as freed people from Egypt.

Analysing the passage from we study one of the greatest miracles crossing the Red Sea, in the lives of the children of Israel and we can also learn about God and what he would do to bring about transformation in our lives, this is what we are going to learn about tonight. There are some more details to the events before we come to chapter 17:8-16; we learn that the children of Israel started to grumble two times in the wilderness journey, firstly for water when they were travelling to Elim, God changed here the bitter waters by healing they got to know God is Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals as he made the bitter water sweet and secondly, when they were travelling into the Wilderness of Sin, they grumbled for food, God provided for manna.

Again we see that there is grumbling within the children of Israel, when they travel further and the question they ask in , “is God with us or not?” we learn from verses 1-8, where God, provided miraculously as Moses was instructed to take his staff and to strike the rock and then when he struck the rock, then it burst forth and came forth with fresh water, fresh living water.

Now, this is important because in each of these events, he's showing us Jesus Christ and the provision of God in answering their needs. See? Because it's not just about water, it's not just about bread, it's about what God is doing. It's about picture of Christ Jesus that, "I am the bread of life coming down out of heaven." Then He said, "I am the living water.

Our point of study is from Rephidim, when the children of Israel were attacked by the Amalekites. The Amalekites, people attacks Israel and here the Israelites learn another name of God as they raise the first banner for war, Jehovah Nissi, the Lord is my banner.

, we start in verse 8. We'll cover the other verses Wednesday at our verse-by-verse study. Verse 8, Amalek came, fought against Israel at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua-- This is the first time we meet Joshua. He will play significantly into the history in the story of Israel and in many ways, he's a picture of Jesus Christ himself. In fact, his name is exactly the same name, Jesus and Joshua have the same name, one's Hebrew, one's Greek.

We've kind of Englified it, Englishified it. That's a new word, I made that up. We've Englishified it because in the Greek, his name is Iēsous. We made it Jesus, but it's almost a transliteration. His name in the Hebrew-- Now remember, Hebrew has no J, so it would be Yah, so Yahshua is his literal name in the Hebrew. You've heard the expression likely, Yahshua Ha Mashiach, Jesus the Messiah, that literally is Joshua the Messiah.

It's a picture of Jesus Christ. We'll hear more about Joshua as we read through the story. Moses said that Joshua, "Now, choose men for us. Go out, fight against Amalek. For tomorrow, I will station myself at the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand." Joshua did as Moses told him and he fought against Amalek and Moses and Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill.

It came about that when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed. There's a point to this. It's not just the hand. There's nothing magical about the hand, something God is doing which we'll see. Moses' hands became heavy and they took a stone and put it under him. He's hand- he's had Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, one on the other, thus his hands were steady until the sun set.

Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. Then the Lord said to Moses, "Write this down." We're glad he did. That's why we have what we're having to read now. Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Moses built an altar there and he named it Jehovah-Nissi, the Lord is my banner.

He said, "The Lord had sworn it. The Lord will have war against Amalek from generation to generation." We know this is true in the history of Israel. We know that in fact it was true. The new name is established over them. He is our banner. It's a very powerful story in the history of Israel, a lot of lessons for us to learn. We have to recognize that it's about transformation.

God is doing a work now, transforming Israel from the slaves that they were into a people that going to walk with God and have faith and to begin to live as men who are free in God. This is important for us as we need to understand when we are saved, we come out of the world and we bring a lot of the world with us. The key now is to understand that God doesn't want to leave you in the condition in which He found you, He wants to transform and the work is done inside our individual lives.

This battle for the Israelites is significant because here they learn that no one could hurt the children of God and live easily, and we also need to analyze this battle, we learn from this Battle; firstly, our greatest Battle is within our Personal lives.

In our day to day lives, there are lots of problems we face, but how we fight those issues is by how we first prepare ourselves internally. One of the important things when we study about this battle, is how God helped the children of Israel to stand against the might of the Philistines, if God took them directly to the promised land we see, they would have become victims of war. They were not ready for war, they were weak in faith and they needed to be transformed. They came out of Egypt as slaves, and they needed to live as men and women of faith. Even we as individuals, we also need a lot of transforming and when we pass through the wilderness in our lives this we need to see here how God is discipling our lives to be stronger to prepare us for a bigger purpose.

a. The flesh makes many troubles

The battle with the Amalekites appears to be completely unprovoked. We can surmise several possible reasons, however, and they all have to do with the desires driven by the flesh. They were descended from Esau and perhaps still carried a grudge that Jacob, the father of the Jews, had been chosen by God to receive the blessing of Abraham instead of Esau their father. In the Amalek people, the Amalekite people, the problem can be sorted right from their history. Why are they doing this? This is a completely unprovoked attack. There is no reason to attack Israel unless we understand something. They're related. The Amalek people and Israel are like cousins. They are the descendants of Esau, Israel being the descendants of Jacob, Esau and Jacob were twins, remember? Esau was born first making him the oldest even by a few minutes, but nevertheless, typically, the oldest would be the patriarch, he would be the inheritor of the wealth and the power of the father, but God made a prophesy. While they were in the womb, that the older would serve the younger and that the younger would be the one of power and the blessings of Abraham would flow through him.

Now, the descendants of Esau, the Amalekite people, they attack Israel, unprovoked. Were they carrying a grudge? Grudges are of the flesh, the problem's inside. Carrying a grudge that their father had been chosen instead of Esau. More likely, they believed Jacob stole the blessing, you stole it and now they're going to be an adversary.

It is more likely that they believed Jacob stole that blessing and were now opposed to them as a people. They will become an adversary generation after generation. The Amalekites’ might also have been concerned that more than 2 million people were crossing the desert and drinking their water. The flesh has strong desires and thirst is one of them. The only way to survive in the desert is to master the water. The Amalekites, like other desert people, would have developed cisterns, many secretly hidden. The Israelites appeared at Elim where there were 12 springs. When they move to Rephidim, fresh water gushes forth from the rock of Horeb. Israel is taking the water!

There is a carnal nature in all our lives and we as individuals need live by subduing our live.

b. God is doing a new work

· God was teaching Israel to trust the Lord; that He would give them what they needed. He's doing a new work. He's teaching Israel to trust God, that He would meet their need. The cravings of the soul, the cravings of life, let God meet them. When they grumbled against God because they had no food, He gave the manna but just enough for each day, that they would have to trust God every day, that they would walk after God for their daily sustenance. The cravings, the desires, let God meet them.

· The rock of Horeb is a picture of Christ. 17:6

It's not about the water, it's about what God is doing. For that water is in fact Christ Himself. Paul said it exactly so in , "Our Fathers all did drink--" Listen to this verse, "Our Fathers all did drink of the same spiritual rock. For the drink of that spiritual rock that followed them and that rock was Christ." When Christ died on the cross, He was struck, you could say, for us.

· That rock brings forth newness of life. We can now live. Jesus says, "I've come that you have life and have it abundantly to the full." We crave, we have so much desire, there's something missing in the soul. "I've come that you have life. I will satisfy the deepest longing of your life, the deepest desires of your soul. I've come that you have life but you'll find that life in God's provision."

App –When Christ died on the cross in our behalf, the Rock was struck! From the Rock of Christ come waters of new life. , have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. This flesh is just a temporary tent to dwell in, but while we're in this tent, we must master over it. God is doing something about it. He's doing a new work. Therefore, we need to understand the condition of our soul. Like, what's the condition of your soul? It's important to recognize because it's part of the story.

c. Know when you’re weak

Before the Amalekites brought this frontal attack, they had used a despicable method of troubling the Hebrews. They had circled around behind and picked off the stragglers who were weak.

This is made clear in the book of Deuteronomy…, Remember what Amalek did to you along the way when you came out from Egypt, how he met you along the way and attacked among you all the stragglers at your rear when you were faint and weary; and he did not fear God.

We got to recognize the importance of strength and our faith, our relationship, because our flesh can make us weak spiritually. When your flesh for example is tired, if you're tired, you're maybe a hungry or angry or whatever the word is, your flesh, it's easier to start getting irritated in the flesh. You're weak, your flesh can start having trouble. Given your fits, gives you trouble.

We are most vulnerable when we are spiritually weakest.

Secondly, we need to know your part and God’s part. We should not live our lives by saying that because God is going to do everything we need to sit idle; we need to exercise our part faithfully when God works. Moses instructed Joshua to choose the men go out and fight against them, but what happens in the story is critical because there are two aspects to the victory. There's what's happening on the battlefield and there's what's happening on the top of the hill where Moses stood with his arms lifted up and his staff in his hand.

a. Our part is diligence and obedience

There's two things happening and both are critical to understand. Our part, God's part. Our part is diligence. Now, what's interesting is that God is doing something different here. He did not bring them up straight into the area of the Promised Land to the Philistines because they would have encountered war. They're not ready for war. They’re weak in general and they're weak in faith.

When they were being pursued by the Egyptian army, they panicked. They were not prepared for war, especially against one of the greatest armies in the world. Moses shouted to the people, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today. The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.”

But here, against the Amalekites, God instructs them to take up arms and stand against them. We have a part to play in our relationship to God and our spiritual victory. And God is involved in all of it. That's what He did with that, but now He's doing something different here against the Amalekites, Amalekites God instructs them to take up arms. Take their stand. You be involved. We have a part to play in our relationship to God and in our spiritual victory, but God is involved in all of it. I resonate a lot with one verse especially – leaning on to the strength of God for support,

, Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain that build it. Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman watches in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, and to eat the bread of painful labors, for it is He who gives to His beloved even while He sleeps.

The key, our part, God’s part. God was the provider of their daily manna, but they had to walk in the instruction of the Lord. They had to go out each morning and take just enough for each day. On the Sabbath they were to trust the Lord by not going out after manna at all. There is a powerful aspect of faith in doing what God is asking us to do – our part.

The aspect of faith in doing what God asked you to do. Your part is important. Now we ne to remember not only diligence but also obedience. As we come forward to Samuel we see that they had King Saul over them and King Saul had been instructed by Samuel the prophet to destroy the Amalekites, same people. Destroy the Amalekites completely even the flocks were to be destroyed. After the battle, the Prophet Samuel comes and says to Saul, “Did you do what God instructed you to do?” He said, “Yes, I have carried out the command of the Lord.”

Saul and Amaelkites, , “Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.” For God obedience in faith matters a lot. So we be ned to be faithful to do what God has asked you to do, and do it with all our might. Obey the voice of the Lord. Behold, it is better to obey, is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fatter rams." Be faithful, your part, be faithful to what God asks you to do.

b. God’s part – He is our banner

Joshua's battle plan is not enough. Moses goes to the top of hill. He lifts his hands to God. It's an expression of dependence to worship, a prayer. God was with him. His hands will grow weary.

Here Israel learned a new name for God – He is Jehovah Nissi; God is our banner. Joshua’s battle plan was not enough. Moses went to the top of the hill and lifted up his hands to God. It was expression of God’s presence with them was the key to their victory.

But his hands grew weary; whenever his hands fell, the Hebrews began to lose in battle. When he lifted his hands again, the Hebrews gained ground against the enemy. So Aaron and Hur came alongside of Moses and lifted up his hands while Moses sat on a rock between them. And the Hebrews saw a great victory against the Amalekites that day. The hands lifted up are a picture of surrender, of giving glory and honor to God, to trust in him in prayer.

Moses was not fighting. Moses is not striking with the sword. He's holding his hands with the sword. It's an expression of need, humility, of honor to God. Moses gets tired, grows weary. The flesh grows weary. They help him. They've found a rock and then Aaron and Hur came and they helped him. It's a great picture of this, but the picture is that of God being Jehovah-Nissi. When his hands were lifted up, Joshua and Israel prevailed. What we can learn from here is that we cannot live as independent believers on this earth, God is not expecting a one man show. We need to understand the signifincance and imprtnce of fellowship which can improve our Christian lives on this earth. He's our Jehovah-Nissi - God is our banner, and even our cooperate worship we declare one thing to the whole about the banner we raise though we are scattered across the world, Jehovah Nissi, when we raise the banner.

Illus – When we lift our hands in worship and in prayer, we say the same.

Learn to encourage others.We need people in our lives that will lift up our hands when we are discouraged this is where my dear brothers and sisters you need to understand the presence of your local assembly in your lives, when we grow weary and tired. We also need to be willing to be an Aaron or Hur in someone else’s life as well. We intercede together.

Live a surrendered life to the power of God in unity. The staff was a picture or a symbol of God’s power. Acknowledging this power and for us today we have is the gospel of Christ, we need to live by humility, and by our faith in God.

God is our banner. He is the banner over us and His banner over us is love; God watches over us and God's hand on our lives is what we need. It's the relationship of faith that strengthens us and helps us to understand how to walk this life. We need to understand and acknowledge it. God is transforming us, and part of that transforming is to understand that we've got to have God involved in all things that we're doing. We need His blessing. We need His hand. We need Jehovah-Nissi.

May His name be glorified!