Exodus 17:8-16
WHILE the people of Israel were at the place where the Lord gave them water from the rock, some people who did not fear God came to the edge of the camp and tried to do harm to the people, — the ones who were tired and weak. The name of the leader was Amelek (Deut. 25:17-19).
So Moses sent a young man named Joshua with other strong men, to fight against them. Moses stood on top of the hill above them, and held up the rod which showed God’s power. As long as he held up the rod, Joshua won, but Moses’ hands were tired, and he let the rod down, and then Amelek won. So Aaron, and a man named Hur, stood on each side of Moses and kept, his hands with the rod steady until night, and Joshua and his men won the battle.
Moses built an altar to offer thanks to God for saving them, and called it Jehovah-Nissi, which meant, The Lord our banner. And God told him to write about this in a book for Joshua to read, and remember to be watching when those same people should come again.
People who believe in God are not now to fight with swords or other weapons, but, instead, to treat those who hate them with kindness (Matthew 5:44).
But there is an enemy within us which we all need to watch. It is our own will which wants to do our own way instead of doing as God’s Word tells us. We cannot win against this enemy unless we ask the Lord’s help as Moses did, and remember His banner is the one we also have.
ML 04/11/1937