MANY HANDS ARE NEEDED FOR THE BATTLE 2-21-04
NKJV (1491 BC)
Exodus 17:8. Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9. And Moses said to Joshua, "Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand." 10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
14 Then the LORD said to Moses,"Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven." 15 And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-LORD-Is-My-Banner; 16 for he said, "Because the LORD has sworn: the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation."
(1451 BC- about 40 years after the actual battle)
Deut 25:17 "Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, 18 how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God. 19 Therefore it shall be, when the LORD your God has given you rest from your enemies all around, in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance, that you will blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. You shall not forget.
Theme: God uses many, different kinds of hands for the battle.
Christians have been called to be soldiers, engaged in battle against the forces of Satan.
I. INTRODUCTION.
A. The Amelkites’ Preparation Was Strong.
1. Related to Israelites (Amalek, grandson of Easu, who hated Jacob because of birthright, blessing)
2. Fierce nomadic fighters
3. Knew the terrain
4. Struck the weakest point of the Israeli caravan-
Dt. 25:18 (attacked the rear ranks, the stragglers, feeble) (Satan will strike at our weak point)
B. Israel’s Preparation Had Strengths And Weaknesses
1. Israel was blessed by God
a. delivered from Egypt
b. given manna-(Ex.16:17)
c. given water--(15:25, made sweet, 17:6, struck the rock)
(Battles may come when we think we are at a spiritual high!)
2. Israel was faced with serious problems
a. Complainers
b. Soldiers inexperienced?? - These were the first of the nations that Israel fought
Transition: In the battle, God uses a group that meets the enemy head-on
II. GOD USED THE FIGHTING HANDS OF THE CHOSEN SOLDIERS.
(those “rubbing shoulders” on a daily basis with the unsaved)
A. The Soldiers Were Courageous - (went out in faith, no history of proven battles)
B. The Soldiers Were Persistent -(when the battle went against them-v. 11 Moses hands go up and down several? times (- raised hands show our dependence upon God) -
These soldiers did not give up easily.
C. Every Soldier In God’s Army Should Take Up His sword, Be In Battle
1. Our weapons are not carnal
2 Cor 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
2. Our weapons are the most powerful ones in existence
Eph 6: 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Transition: To the battle , God has set some to be leaders
III. GOD USED THE GUIDING HANDS OF A “MATURE” CAPTAIN, JOSHUA.- (group leaders)
A. Captains Don’t Start Out As Captains, But As Privates, Corporals.
1. Joshua- One of the 12 spies to Canaan, One of 2 with a good report
2. Joshua- An obedient servant. (v. 10..... as Moses had ordered, NIV)
B. Captains Given Greater Responsibilities- (v.14 ....make sure Joshua hears it--NIV)
C. Our Church Needs More “Captains”- Sunday School Teachers, Children’s workers
Transition: To the battle, some remain behind the scenes, helping, praying
IV. GOD USED THE UPLIFTING HANDS OF AARON AND HUR- Behind the scenes encouragers
A. They Walked Up The Hill With Moses, Though Not Chosen For Moses’ Position.
B. They Watched (And Prayed?), Though Not Chosen To Fight Directly.
(v. 10 Moses Aaron and Hur went to top of the)(and many believe they prayed for their brethren)
C. They Held The Hands That Held The Rod Of God,
(Though Not Chosen To Hold Up The Rod Of God themselves.-
(Would victory have been achieved without them?)
D. God Still Uses Behind The Scenes Encouragers. Prayer warriors? Those doing the “small?” jobs
Transition: to the battle, God has given some a very special leadership..
V. GOD USED THE "RAISED INTERCESSORY" HANDS OF MOSES.
(Those with the most authority/ responsibility) - (Gen Supt. Sectional leaders, local pastors.)
A. The Most Responsibility Of The Outcome Of The Battle Depended On Him
1. Held up the symbol of God’s power
2. Tired, but determined. - note: ordinarily rod could be held easily with one hand but here both hands
B. After The Battle
1. He led in praising God. - (an altar built, implies a sacrifice, worship)
2. He led in preparation for the next battle.
VI. CONCLUSION.
“God has no hands but ours??” God does not ask about our ability or our inability, but our availability.
It is not my ability, but my response to God’s ability, that counts. Corrie ten Boom
It is not a question of our equipment, but of our poverty; not what we bring with us, but what he puts in us; not our natural virtues, our strength of character, our knowledge, our experience; all that is of no avail. . . . God can do nothing with people who think they will be of use to him. Oswald Chambers
God ... does not lavish his children with a jolly discipleship so that they may swim in spiritual ecstasy between conversion and death. God is a giver, but he does not give happiness. He gives redemption, meaning, security, love, victory, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. And happiness is our response to his gifts. -- Calvin Miller in The Taste of Joy. Christianity Today, Vol. 31, no. 6.
To Moses belongs the credit of having recognized the needs of the occasion, and the “diversity of gifts” in himself and his “minister.” He took the duties, for which he felt himself fit, upon himself; he delegated those, for which he knew that he was unfit, to the individual who, among the thousands of Israel, appeared to him, and. no doubt was, the most perfectly fitted for them. In a minor way, it may be noticed that Aaron and Hur, unsuited for either military command or the leading part in sustained intercessory prayer, had yet gifts which enabled them to play a useful secondary part in support of Moses, and were selected by him for their fitness.
DIVERSITIES OF GIFTS is required —
1. For the best utilization of all the powers possessed by God’s people at any given time. Unless diversity be recognized, all aspirants naturally seek the same posts. All are rivals. Jealousies, sure to arise, are intensified. Discontents multiply. Rulers find the difficulty of government augmented. Again, special talents are wasted. The man most suited to one post occupies another. The gifts which he needs he often does not possess; those which he possesses he cannot exercise.
1 Cor 12: 4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
We must ask the question which one of these four groups could the Battle do without??
Victory over the Amalekites (Gen 14:7; Num 13:29; 14:25)
Encouragement: -- There were four boys, all brothers, walking along the banks of a stream, and playing as they went. Like most boys, their idea of fun was to go as far into danger as they could, and at length one of them fell into a deep place. He could not swim, but immediately his brother who could, plunged in to rescue him. He got hold of him but could not bring him to the bank, then another brother, catching hold of a branch, stretched his body out its whole length so that the swimmer could catch hold, and thus all three were brought safe to land. When they got home they all began to tell their father about the affair. "Now give me time," he said, "and I’ll hear you all." Turning to the oldest, he asked, "When your brother fell into the river what did you do towards his rescue?" "Well, father, at first I was paralyzed with fear, and I stood on the bank for some seconds trembling for his safety, then I recovered myself and plunging in, caught hold of him, and strove to bring him to shore." Then facing the second boy he said, "And what did you do to rescue your brother?" "I could not swim, father, but when I saw they could not reach the shore, I bridged the water between them and the bank so that they might pull themselves in." Now there only remained the youngest, a little fellow of four years, and turning to him the father asked, "And what did you do? Oh, father, I could do nothing. I just stood on the bank and clapped my hands and shouted, "Well done, well done!" "Yes, well done, my boys, all of you, I am proud to have such sons," exclaimed the happy father. Christians, standing safe on the bank, What have you done for the rescue of your brother? At least you can by your words and prayers encourage others who are stronger to go to the rescue of the lost. The working layman: The Biblical Illustrator
