67_The battle belongs to the Lord
Ex 17:8-16 Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. 9 So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.
14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The Lord Is My Banner, 16 saying, “A hand upon the throne of the Lord! The Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation
There is an old painting titled Checkmate, which depicts a young man locked in a chess game with the devil. The expression on the young man’s face conveys despair as he appears to be losing. Yet a chess master studying the painting declared, “The game is not over; the king has one more move.” This story reminds us that no matter how dire the situation appears, when God is in control, He always has the final move. This truth anchors Exodus 17:8-16, where the Israelites learned firsthand that the battle belongs to the Lord.
The Israelites camped at Rephidim, following the commandment of the Lord. But here they experienced necessity and vulnerability. First, there was no water. When that was solved by the water springing from the rock of Horeb, they were attacked unawares by the Amalekites. God leads us into challenging situations to teach us dependence on Him. The Lord Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. In Deuteronomy 32, Moses reflects on how God guided Israel:
“He found him in a desert land, and in the howling waste of the wilderness; he encircled him, he cared for him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that flutters over its young, spreading out its wings, catching them, bearing them on its pinions, the Lord alone guided him…” (Deuteronomy 32:10-12).
This vivid image of an eagle stirring its nest shows how God pushes His children out of their comfort zones to grow, but He never abandons them to their fate. Instead, He spreads His wings to catch them. At Rephidim, the Israelites faced their first battle. They had to learn to fight for they were heading for Canaan, where numerous enemies awaited them. Through the wilderness skirmishes, God was preparing them for future victories there. As Psalm 144:1 declares, “Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.”
In recounting this event, Deuteronomy 25 sheds light on the Amalekites’ strategy. First, they did not fear God despite his mighty victory over Pharaoh and his army. Throughout history, Satan has often used the godless to assault His people. Psalm 11:2 describes such actions: “For behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow to the string to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart.”
Secondly, the Amalekites struck when the Israelites were unprepared, faint and weary. Vigilance is essential to counter the enemy’s attacks during moments of weakness. Jesus warned His disciples, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” (Matthew 26:41).
Thirdly, the Amalekites attacked from behind, targeting the weaklings and laggards. In every group, the weakest are the first to be attacked. It is the responsibility of the stronger to support and defend the weak against the enemy. The spiritual laggards are also in danger, those who lag behind God, disobeying him, failing to meet with his people, or ignoring their relationship with God. Satan often targets them and through them the entire church.
Moses responded to this attack with decisive action. He understood that an assault on a few was an assault on the whole community. He entrusted the young and courageous Joshua with the task of choosing men to fight. This is the first mention of Joshua in Scripture, and it marks him as a man of faith and courage. He obeyed his master and fought the huge army of Amalek, despite its daunting size. Years later, when commanded to march around Jericho, he displayed the same faithful obedience. Courage stems from trust in God and obedience to His word.
Moses did not merely send Joshua into battle; he actively directed it. He promised to stand on the hilltop with the staff of God in his hand. This staff was a symbol of God’s power and presence, parting the Red Sea, turning water into blood, and bringing forth water from a rock. As Moses raised the staff, it became a picture of intercessory prayer—an acknowledgment that Israel’s victory depended not on human strength but on divine intervention.
Yet, even Moses, a great servant of God, grew weary. His hands faltered, and when they lowered, the Amalekites gained ground. In our human limitations it is essential to receive the support of others. Aaron and Hur were there with Moses, and in his weakness, they stepped in, holding up Moses’ hands until sunset. This act of unity and mutual support underscores the value of unity and mutual support. No matter how gifted or strong leaders may be, they need the help of others to persevere.
By day’s end, the Israelites triumphed. To the casual observer, it appeared that Joshua and his men won the battle with their swords. But the real victory was won on the hilltop through prayer and reliance on God. David’s words to Goliath echo this truth: “The Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hand.” (1 Samuel 17:47).
God assured Moses that he would not cease to battle against Amalek until they were completely blotted out. This complete and final victory over the Amalekites was fulfilled later in Israel’s history. The people of God are strongly assured of ultimate triumph over Satan. Romans 16:20 declares, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” This victory is not by our might but through the power of God.
In response to the victory, Moses built an altar and called it Jehovah Nissi, meaning “The Lord is our banner.” A banner symbolizes the king’s identity, majesty, authority, and allegiance. By naming the altar Jehovah Nissi, Moses proclaimed that God alone was their protector and source of victory. The Lord of Hosts leads His people, and His presence is their banner.
The prophet Zephaniah captures the joy of God’s protection and restoration:
“Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing” (Zephaniah 3:16-17).
Let us always recognize the reality of spiritual battles and the necessity of preparation. Like the Israelites, we may face unexpected attacks, but let us not falter. God uses these experiences to train us for greater challenges ahead.
Second, we need to guard against spiritual vulnerability. The Amalekites attacked those who were faint, weary, and lagging. Let us be vigilant in maintaining our spiritual disciplines so that through laziness the enemy may not gain an advantage over us. Let us also stay connected with the body of Christ. Isolation makes us easy targets for the enemy.
Third, victory in life’s battles comes through dependence on God. Moses’ raised hands symbolized prayer and trust in God’s power. As believers, we are called to fight on two fronts: in the physical realm, by taking faithful action, and in the spiritual realm, through prayer and intercession.
Finally, we must support one another. Just as Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ hands, we are called to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). No one can stand alone in the fight against sin and spiritual opposition.
The battle belongs to the Lord. When we move in His will and rely on His strength, we will experience His victory. Like Moses, we too can declare that the Lord is our banner, leading us in triumph and marking us as His own. Trust in Him, for the King always has the final move. God bless.