Thursday, October 13, 2011
Exodus 7:8-13 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.
LOOK TO THE ROD OF GOD
Whenever and however we are attacked, this story of Israel fighting the Amalekites teaches us to, Look to the rod of God for strength. When Joshua and the armies of Israel went to battle against the Amalekites, Moses went up on top of a hill and held up the rod.
That must have been very encouraging for the people. Remember what that rod stood for. It was the shepherd's rod that Moses used when he tended his father-in-law's sheep in Midian. Then God met Moses on Mt. Sinai and called him to lead His people out of Egypt. As a proof that God would be with him, He told Moses to throw down his rod and it turned into a snake. That is when Moses began calling it the rod of God.
Moses showed the same sign to the people of Israel and then to Pharaoh as proof that God had sent him. Think of how the rod was used after that. Moses touched the Nile River with the rod and the water became blood. Moses touched the dust with his rod and the dust became lice. When Israel was trapped at the Red Sea, Moses raised the rod over the Sea and the water was parted. When they were safely on the other side, Moses raised his rod again and the water came down upon the army of Egypt. When they were in the desert with no water to drink, Moses struck the rock with his rod and water poured out. The rod of God was a means of protection. It was used to defeat enemies. It provided for Israel's needs. It was a source of comfort and strength in battle.
We too, have the rod of God to use. Isaiah says, "He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth" (11:4). The rod that comes from Christ's mouth is His word. The word of Scripture is what comes out of His mouth to strike the earth. God's word brings God's power to defeat our enemies. God's word strengthens and protects our faith, it encourages us in the battle. God's word provides the refreshing water of life in the gospel. Look to the rod of God and keep it close always.
