LESSONS LEARNED ON LIFE’S BATTLEFIELD
Exodus 17:8-16
INTRODUCTION: There are times when the walk of the Christian is a walk of warfare. We face battles on every hand. In this final installment in the Life’s Lessons series I want you to see the importance of faith and prayerful support on the battlefield of life.
I. THEY LEARNED THAT A TRIAL OFTEN COMES ON THE HEELS OF A VICTORY
1. The children of Israel had just been blessed by the miracle of water from the rock.
2. Isn’t it just like the enemy to come at us right after God blesses?
a. Job
b. Waters of Marah
c. Temptation after Jesus’ baptism
d. Then came Amalek. Notice the connection with verse seven.
3. Israel was still in Rephidim (place of comfort, rest), the place where God had just given them water.
II. THEY LEARNED THAT THEY COULD DEPEND ON GOD IN BATTLE
1. Moses had learned that he didn’t need to worry or fret when confronted by the enemy.
2. By faith immediately put a plan in motion that would give Israel victory (v. 9).
a. He told Joshua to choose men (not males). He wanted men of faith and courage—men with the touch and presence of God on their lives that would defeat the Amalekites.
b. From the tone of what he said, Moses had no doubt as to the outcome of the battle. There wasn’t even a hint of wavering in his orders.
c. He told Joshua to “go out”—step out in faith.
3. Moses was determined to stand on the top of the hill (v. 10). He had learned that there is help from the hill. Psalm 121:1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
4. The hill represented God and His strength. Not only did Moses look or lift up his eyes unto the hill—he stood on the hill (v. 9). I’m Standing On The Rock Of Ages!
5. He would stand on the rock with the rod of God in his hand (v. 9). It was no longer the rod of Moses.
6. When he earlier argued with God about his ability to speak to Pharaoh, God demonstrated what He could do with what little we may have (Exodus 4:1-4).
7. I believe that he now spoke of the rod as the rod of God because he had learned little is much if God is in it. Is your all surrendered into the hands of God?
III. THEY LEARNED THE VALUE OF PRAYER
1. Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill with Moses (v. 11).
2. Moses held up his hand (v. 11). When Moses held up his hands to the Lord, he revealed his dependence on God and his faith in Him.
a. Israel learned on life’s battlefield that strength and victory was found only in a CONTINIOUS drawing to God and faith in Him.
b. When Moses’ prayer ceased, the flow of divine power ceased.
c. It is the same today. If we fail to call upon God daily in prayer, then God’s blessings will begin to cease flowing toward us.
d. Our only assurance of victory lies in continually drawing near to God through Christ for help in the time of need.
IV. THEY LEARNED THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYING FOR ONE ANOTHER
Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
1. Moses’ hands became heavy. Sometimes the burden you bear becomes too heavy to carry alone.
2. Aaron and Hur put a rock under Moses for him to sit and rest upon.
3. Aaron and Hur stayed up Moses’ hands—one man on each side.
4. His hands were steady until the going down of the sun—the end of the day.
5. I am thankful for the Aaron’s and Hur’s I have known.
6. Because of these faithful men, Joshua “discomfited” the Amalekites with the sword.
7. Discomfited means he wasted away the Amalekites. IT’S ABOUT TIME THAT GOD’S PEOPLE BANDED TOGETHER AND DISCOMFITED THE DEVIL. It’s time we made the devil a little uncomfortable!
8. Verse 14 tells us that the victory over Amalek was so complete that God would “utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven!”
CONCLUSION: Do you need an Aaron tonight? Do you need a Hur tonight? Have your hands grown heavy on life’s battlefield? Let’s pray for one another.
