Dear Family,
Today is Sabbath, June 1, 2024. It is Day 35 and Day 7 of Week 5 in our Count to Pentecost.
After the “supposed” problem with the “lack” of water now solved, Israel faced a truly major situation; Amalek came against Israel to do battle. Exodus 13 tells us God had led Israel out of Egypt by the way of the wilderness and Red Sea so they would not encounter or provoke the Philistines and be caught in battle early in their journey. But when Israel was in Rephidim, Amalek came to Israel to engage them in battle.
Exodus 13:17-18 (17) And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said; Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: (18) But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.
Some translations have the words armed for battle where the KJV has harnessed. Israel was physically prepared to do battle. Exodus 17 describes the first of many battles Israel fought in their long forty years of wandering.
Exodus 17:8-16 (8) Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. (9) And Moses said unto Joshua; Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. (10) So 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. (11) And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. (12) But 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. (13) And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. (14) And the LORD said unto Moses; Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. (15) And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi: (16) For he said; Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.
In Deuteronomy we learn that Amalek‛s attack against Israel was sneaky, attacking from the rear. This was an unprovoked attack by Amalek against Israel.
Deuteronomy 25:17-18 (17) Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt; (18) How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God.
In response, Moses called Joshua to lead the armies of Israel into battle, to defend the nation against the attack from Amalek. There is a very important lesson here for us today.
When Moses‛ hands were lifted up to God, God intervened. When Moses was tired, not holding up his hands to God, the battle went against Israel. What can we learn from this account?
1 Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
Is there any spiritual value in lifting up holy hands in prayer? We are by no means restricted to one particular posture of prayer (lifting up holy hands). However, there is a history of the people of God lifting up hands in prayer that we should not overlook.
Whatever the possible value may be in lifting up of our hands in prayer, it is worth our consideration. It can surely be an outward expression used for praising or blessing of God.
Here are a couple of references, or witnesses, to consider.
Psalm 134:2 Lift up your hands to the sanctuary And bless the LORD.;
Psalm 63:1-5 (1) O God, thou art my God; early will I seek Thee: my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; (2) To see Thy power and Thy glory, so as I have seen Thee in the sanctuary. (3) Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee. (4) Thus will I bless Thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in Thy name. (5) My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips:
As we can also learn from the account with Moses, others are needed to accomplish the task, especially when God‛s people are fighting the enemy. Therefore, we are all needed as we offer up prayers for one another.
Ben Faulkner, Pastor
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