Our fleshly desires never retire from the field, but neither does the Spirit, fighting to the finish.
The scouts of Amalek’s army look down on Israel. It seemed like taking candy from a baby—old folks and little ones, cattle and sheep, and laden with Egypt’s treasures. They search in vain for any defender’s banner fluttering over the camp. Israel seemed unprotected. Just as Egypt pictures the world with its leader, Satan, so Amalek illustrates the flesh, the lustful pull of our old selves. Now as the Amalekites maneuvered into position, “Moses said to Joshua, ‘Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek’” (Ex 17:9). This is the first time we hear about Joshua (the Hebrew form of the name Jesus). He will lead the forces of the Lord’s people, just as our Captain Jesus does. Meanwhile “Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill” (v 10). In his hand, Moses carried “the rod of God” (v 9). What a scene! As Moses lifts up the rod, Joshua’s troops gain new vigor, pushing back the foe. But “when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed” (v 11). What could they do? Aaron and Hur “took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands…and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun” (v 12). What an illustration of these words, “Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees” (Heb 12:12). There is victory through the use of the Word, the intercession of others, and the supporting ministry of encouragement. What does God say of the foe? “Write this for a memorial…that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek” (Ex 17:14). No compromise with the flesh, but the battle will continue till the sun goes down. And what did the enemy spies miss in their reconnaissance? “Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner” (v 15).