Exodus 17:8-138Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. 10So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. (Exodus 17:8‑13).
THE children of Israel had no sooner had a drink of the refreshing waters which flowed from the smitten rock, when the Amalekites came and fought against them. As we remarked last week, this water speaks to us of the Holy Spirit, and therefore we find that conflict begins at once. "The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.” 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).
Perhaps some of our young readers have recently been saved. If you have, you are now indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God '(Eph. 1:1313In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13)), and He will never leave you (John 14:1616And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (John 14:16)). But you still have the old nature, and it has not improved at all. It is like the host of the Amalekites who fought against the Israelites and tried to hinder their progress. It will hinder your progress too, if you allow it to act. The way in which the children of Israel gained the victory is very instructive, for it shows the only way of victory for us.
Joshua is a figure of Christ as the Leader of His people, and so Joshua went out with chosen rnen to fight against the Amalekites. Then, while the battle was going on in the wilderness, Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill and Moses held up his hands. As :long as his hands were uplifted, the Israelites were victorious, but when he let down his hands the Amalekites were victorious. This would show us that we cannot gain the victory over the evil inclinations of our sinful nature in our own strength. We need Christ leading us in the power of the Spirit of God in accordance, with His Word, just as Joshua led the Israelites according to the word of Moses; and then we also need Christ as our Great High Priest interceding for us on high, as Moses lifted up his hands on the top to the Mount, He 5 ever ready to help us in every time of need (Hebrews 4: 15-16), and we could never gain ill, victory if He were not interceding for us. Moses' hands became very tired, and so Aaron and Hur made him sit down while they held up his weary hands, Aaron on one side and Hur the other. In this way his hands were held steady until the end. of the day, and the children of Israel were victorious. Aaron is the priest, and Hur means purity. How blessed to know that Great High Priest's hands will never grow weary. His work on Calvary has, so perfectly answered to God about the sin question, that in holiness He call maintain His work as our Great Hid Priest and Advocate. He who died for: us is now living for us on high.
Let us make a few remarks here so that even the youngest may understand the meaning of all this. Perhaps you may be distressed at times to find that the old nature with its sinful desires is still within. There is real conflict between the flesh and the Spirit, but let us remember that the battle is the Lord's and that He is the Leader of His people. Our Great High Priest is pleading for us too. He knows all about us and our every weakness, but in Be strength we can go forward, counting on Him for the victory. It is just as certain as Israel's victory over Amalek if we count on the Lord and go to Him for grace to help in time of need.
Messages of God’s Love 7/24/1949