Wednesday, October 12, 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.
LEARN HOW OUR ENEMIES ATTACK?
Moses recounts this event when Israel was about to enter into the promised land. There he gives us more details about how the Amalekites attacked Israel. "Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, 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" (Deuteronomy 25:17-18).
That seems like a very cowardly way of attacking Israel, to attack the weak stragglers: the elderly, those with young children, everyone who couldn't keep up with the rest. But the Amalekites had heard about what happened to the Egyptians. They were afraid and knew they couldn't survive a full frontal attack. So they attacked where Israel was the weakest.
Isn't that what Satan does also? He has been defeated, but he is not destroyed. He knows he can't attack us where we are strong, standing with Christ. So he attacks when and where we are the weakest. Satan is described as a roaring lion prowling around seeking whom he may devour. Even lions don't attack the strong, they look for the weak, the young and the sick. They try to get them alone and then attack and kill.
Each of us has our weak points, those temptation in which the devil seems to be more likely to lead us to sin. For some it might be judging others. Others might be more easily led to anger and rage. Some have a weakness for sexual lusts while others may be prone to fear and worry. Whatever your weakness is, that is where the devil attacks and he keeps on attacking you there.
When you know where Satan is going to attack, then you can be prepared. Recognize that your area of weakness is what the devil is going to use to try to lead you away from God and destroy your faith. Confess your sin and weaknesses to God and seek his strength to resist them in the future.
