“THEN came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.” The children of Israel had no sooner drunk the refreshing waters from the smitten rock, when the Amalekites came and fought against them. The water speaks of the Holy Spirit and immediately after the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in our hearts we have conflict; for “the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other.” Galatians 5:1717For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (Galatians 5:17). Amalek is the power of Satan, acting through the flesh perhaps, but the enemy who sets himself against the people of God. He challenges their onward march and seeks to hinder their progress.
This was the first conflict Israel experienced after they had left Egypt and were now in the wilderness. Up until this point the Lord had taken care of the enemy for Israel, but from this time on they will be seen in personal conflict with their foes. Jehovah who had before fought for them would now make His power manifest in them. Whenever they displayed His banner He gave them victory, but when they failed to look to Him, as was often the case, they suffered defeat. There is no difficulty in applying these principles to ourselves. The way in which the children of Israel gained the victory is very instructive, for it shows the only way of victory for us.
We can see the subtlety of Satan in the time chosen for the attack. It was just after the people had sinned, when it might have been supposed God was displeased with them. But He who had brought them through the waters of the Red Sea would not now leave them to perish at the hands of the great enemy
“And Moses said unto Joshua. Choose us out men, and go out’ fight with Amalek.” Joshua appears for the first time here. He is a type of Christ, in the energy of the Spirit I leading His redeemed people to the conflict. If Satan gathers his forces to harass and fight against the Lord’s people, the Lord Jesus, on the other hand, leads out His chosen ones to meet him. Therefore the battle is the Lord’s. How well it would be for us if in our difficulties and conflicts we counted on the Lord for deliverance and victory.
Deliverance from Satan could only be accomplished by Christ the true Passover Lamb through His death on the cross. He is the manna come down from heaven as the food of His people, and the water is the Holy Spirit. Brought into these blessings, conflict with Satan and the flesh becomes a personal thing with every child of God. And yet Christ, our Joshua, ever appears as the leader of His people; it is only through Him that we can overcome the enemy.
Moses on the top of the hill is a type of Christ now above, interceding for His people. He maintains them in the power of the Spirit bow, while He intercedes for them in the presence of God above. “It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?... Nay, in all these things we are more than conquers, through Him that loved us.” Romans 8:34-3734Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (Romans 8:34‑37).
ML-11/23/1969