8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.
It says that the Amalekites came and attacked. That makes this battle one of self defense. Nothing surprises God. When you give people free will to make decisions, sometimes they do silly things, like try to fight a nation of people with God on their side. God will use this situation for His glory.
9 Moses said to Joshua,
Spoiler: After Moses dies, Joshua leads the people of Israel. This is why he’s mentioned by name here and now.
“Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”
10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.
Nothing is impossible for the Lord. Here He is solving this problem in a seemingly simple way. Moses gets to participate without even fighting.
12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.
The Amalekites had plenty of time to not make this decision. They still made the decision. These are the consequences when you go up against the Lord God Almighty.
14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.”
Amalek could have made better choices. It didn’t have to be this way.
15 Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. 16 He said, “Because hands were lifted up against the throne of the Lord, the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”
Moral of the story. Don’t just assume you can take out The Lord’s people.
Scripture discussed: Exodus 17:8-15
IIWAC: Battle One
It says that the Amalekites came and attacked. That makes this battle one of self defense. Nothing surprises God. When you give people free will to make decisions, sometimes they do silly things, like try to fight a nation of people with God on their side. God will use this situation for His glory.
9 Moses said to Joshua,
Spoiler: After Moses dies, Joshua leads the people of Israel. This is why he’s mentioned by name here and now.
“Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”
10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.
Nothing is impossible for the Lord. Here He is solving this problem in a seemingly simple way. Moses gets to participate without even fighting.
12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.
The Amalekites had plenty of time to not make this decision. They still made the decision. These are the consequences when you go up against the Lord God Almighty.
14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.”
Amalek could have made better choices. It didn’t have to be this way.
15 Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. 16 He said, “Because hands were lifted up against[c] the throne of the Lord,[d] the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”
Moral of the story. Don’t just assume you can take out The Lord’s people.
Scripture discussed: Exodus 17:8-15