Passage: Exodus 17:8-16
The Big Idea
Right after the water flows from the Rock, Amalek attacks. In Scripture, Amalek pictures the flesh, and when the Spirit begins to flow in a believer’s life, the flesh fights back. Joshua (the same name as Jesus) fights in the valley, but the battle is won on the hill, where Moses holds up his hands with the staff of God. When his hands drop, Amalek wins. The flesh isn’t beaten by more flesh; it’s beaten by faith and prayer, and God has declared war on it for good. Saul later tried to spare Amalek’s king, and it cost him everything. Don’t negotiate with the flesh.
When the Spirit Flows, the Flesh Fights
Last time we saw water flowing from the Rock. The Rock was Christ, and the water pictures the Holy Spirit.
When a believer is filled and led by the Holy Spirit, something surprising happens: they get attacked, out of nowhere, by their former nature, the flesh. It stirs up all kinds of evil desires and struggles, and it shows no mercy.
The flesh is the natural enemy of the Spirit. Your old self-life is the natural enemy of the Jesus-life given to you when you believed.
Major Ian Thomas taught that this is why God allows seasons that weaken our self-reliance. The wilderness is a place of soul-suffering, meant to make us weaker in ourselves so we’ll depend completely on the Lord for every step.
Peter puts it this way: since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, so you no longer live for human passions but for the will of God (1 Peter 4:1-2).
Amalek Attacks (Exodus 17:8)
Then Amalek came and attacked Israel at Rephidim.
- This was Israel’s first battle. They’d been slaves for centuries, and until now God had done all their fighting. This is significant.
- Throughout Scripture, the Holy Spirit uses Amalek as a picture of our flesh.
- Where did Amalek come from? He was Esau’s grandson (Genesis 36:12).
- Esau was a picture of the flesh: trusting himself and his own abilities, trading his birthright for a bowl of stew (Hebrews 12:16). The self-life.
Moses later reminded Israel: Remember what Amalek did to you on the way out of Egypt. When you were tired and worn out, he met you on the way and cut down all who were lagging behind; he had no fear of God. So when the Lord gives you rest, you must blot out the memory of Amalek. Don’t forget (Deuteronomy 25:17-19).
- That’s how the flesh fights: it attacks when we’re tired and weary, and it goes after the stragglers.
Joshua in the Valley (Exodus 17:9-10)
Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight Amalek. Tomorrow I’ll stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua fought Amalek as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
- This is Joshua’s first appearance in Scripture.
- Joshua’s name in Hebrew is Yehoshua, “the LORD saves,” the same name as Jesus. He’ll be a beautiful picture of Jesus.
- The flesh wars against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; they’re opposed to each other (Galatians 5:17). It’s a war, and Jesus will win it.
- Peter promises that after you’ve suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, establish and strengthen you (1 Peter 5:6, 10).
- The flesh-life doesn’t die easily. But it will die at the hand of Jesus.
Hands Lifted (Exodus 17:11-13)
As long as Moses held up his hands, Israel was winning. Whenever he lowered his hands, Amalek was winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up, one on each side, so his hands stayed steady until sunset. So Joshua overcame Amalek’s army with the sword.
- Flesh doesn’t beat flesh. Victory didn’t depend on Joshua’s physical strength.
- Faith was the key to victory, the staff of God lifted up.
- Lifted hands were the posture of prayer. Prayer is vital for victory over the flesh.
- Epaphras was always wrestling in prayer for the Colossians, that they would stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God (Colossians 4:12).
- “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful” (Colossians 4:2).
- “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6).
- And notice: Moses couldn’t keep his hands up alone. He sat on a stone (and we know who the Rock is), and his brothers held up his arms. We need the Rock under us and brothers beside us.
The LORD Is My Banner (Exodus 17:14-16)
The Lord said to Moses, “Write this in a book as something to remember, and make sure Joshua hears it: I will completely erase the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” Moses built an altar and called it The-LORD-Is-My-Banner (Yahweh Nissi). He said, “Because hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD, the LORD will be at war against Amalek from generation to generation.”
- God has declared permanent war on the flesh.
- And He’s the banner we rally under. The victory is His.
Who Forgot to Remember? (1 Samuel 15)
Centuries later, God told King Saul to finish the job against Amalek. Saul defeated them, but spared their king, Agag, and kept the best of the livestock.
- Saul thought God was exaggerating, that the flesh wasn’t really that bad.
- He wanted to serve God with his own best ideas. God wanted obedient faith. Samuel told him, “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22).
- That self-will cost Saul his kingdom.
Are you still living by your own opinions, deciding for yourself what’s right and wrong? That’s living by the flesh. “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:8).
We compromise with the flesh at our peril. We can’t agree with the self-life or go along with it. Self-sufficiency is behind so much weakness and lack of victory in the church today.
Grace Takeaway
When the living water starts to flow, expect Amalek. The flesh will attack, especially when you’re tired. But you don’t beat it with more flesh. The victory is won on the hill: hands lifted in dependent prayer, the staff of God’s grace held high, the Rock beneath you, brothers holding up your arms, and Jesus fighting in the valley. The LORD is your banner, and He’s already sworn the flesh’s defeat. Don’t spare Agag.
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