DWJL511
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As long as Moses remained standing and depended on his own strength and stamina to keep his hands up, victory for the Israelites was not sure, for their enemies the Amalekites prevailed whenever Moses got tired and lowered his hands.
When we are in a spiritual battle and we are depending on our own strength, we will make advancements only to retreat—victory is elusive—and the battle will be long-drawn.
So how do we ensure a steady progress and guaranteed victory?
Look at verse 12. Moses sat and rested on a stone and Aaron and Hur held both of his hands up. The result was that Joshua defeated the Amalekites.
Christ Unveiled
The stone represents Christ the Rock. Aaron represents our High Priest, Jesus, for Aaron was Israel’s high priest then. Hur means “hole” in Hebrew and speaks of the nail-pierced hands of our High Priest. The hill that Moses stood on represents Calvary.
So I see the whole thing as a picture of resting in Christ and His finished work at the cross. This is how we experience victory in our spiritual battles. We must remember that we are SEATED with Christ in heavenly places, far above all principalities and powers, might and dominion (Ephesians 1:20–21; 2:6).
It is thus about adopting a posture or attitude of rest. It is about proceeding from a place of victory, for we fight with the belief that victory is already ours in Christ. In other words, we fight FROM victory. We don’t fight FOR victory, as if Christ has not already won the victory for us through the cross. Spiritual warfare then, is really about standing your ground. It is not about fighting the devil and his demons for victory.
It is no surprise then, that when the apostle Paul talked about putting on the armor of God and standing against the wiles of the devil in Ephesians 6:10–19, the word “wrestle” appears only once whereas the word “stand” (including “withstand”) appears four times! The emphasis is on STANDING our ground rather than wrestling with the enemy all the time.
Finally, we must remember that it is not our smarts, strength or willpower that holds us up, but our High Priest, Jesus, who holds us up with His righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).
Exodus 17:8–13
Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 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.” 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. And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 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. So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 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.” 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. And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 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. So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
When we are in a spiritual battle and we are depending on our own strength, we will make advancements only to retreat—victory is elusive—and the battle will be long-drawn.
So how do we ensure a steady progress and guaranteed victory?
Look at verse 12. Moses sat and rested on a stone and Aaron and Hur held both of his hands up. The result was that Joshua defeated the Amalekites.
Christ Unveiled
The stone represents Christ the Rock. Aaron represents our High Priest, Jesus, for Aaron was Israel’s high priest then. Hur means “hole” in Hebrew and speaks of the nail-pierced hands of our High Priest. The hill that Moses stood on represents Calvary.
So I see the whole thing as a picture of resting in Christ and His finished work at the cross. This is how we experience victory in our spiritual battles. We must remember that we are SEATED with Christ in heavenly places, far above all principalities and powers, might and dominion (Ephesians 1:20–21; 2:6).
It is thus about adopting a posture or attitude of rest. It is about proceeding from a place of victory, for we fight with the belief that victory is already ours in Christ. In other words, we fight FROM victory. We don’t fight FOR victory, as if Christ has not already won the victory for us through the cross. Spiritual warfare then, is really about standing your ground. It is not about fighting the devil and his demons for victory.
It is no surprise then, that when the apostle Paul talked about putting on the armor of God and standing against the wiles of the devil in Ephesians 6:10–19, the word “wrestle” appears only once whereas the word “stand” (including “withstand”) appears four times! The emphasis is on STANDING our ground rather than wrestling with the enemy all the time.
Finally, we must remember that it is not our smarts, strength or willpower that holds us up, but our High Priest, Jesus, who holds us up with His righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).