Christ in the Old Testament

Exodus 17:14

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.” (NIV)

Today’s Reading: Exodus 17:8-16

Today the Israelites encounter the Amalekites. For the first time since crossing the Red Sea, the Israelites are attacked by something other than the forces of nature. Who were these Amalekites?

Amalek was the grandson of Esau. He was born to Esau’s son Eliphaz and his concubine Timna. If you recall from our study on January 9 of Esau and Jacob, they were twin sons of Isaac who were given very different futures. God blessed Jacob and not Esau. In fact, God tells Israel through Malachi, “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated” (Mal 1:2-3). Amalek was a descendant of the cursed twin brother Esau whereas the Israelites were descendants of Jacob, the blessed brother. So you might call this encounter in the desert a family quarrel of sorts.

We also discussed the symbology of the twins and how Esau represents the flesh and Jacob represents the spirit. Amalek would therefore represent a type of flesh as well. Up to this point, God has told the Israelites to simply stand still and watch God provide for them. However, when the Amalekites attack Israel, God tells them to choose some men and go fight. But the victory would not rest in their hands. It was still God who would provide the victory.

Moses was to stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God and keep his hands raised. As long as his hands were raised, the Israel would win. But the battle was evidently longer than Moses’ stamina so Aaron and Hur had to help him hold his hands up all day long. At sunset, Joshua with his army of Israelites defeated the Amalekites “with the sword.”

Two prophecies are told of the Amalekites after their defeat:

1. God will “completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven” (vs 14).
2. “The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation” (vs 16).

This battle was not won through having great skill or great forces. While Joshua and his men had to fight in the battle, the outcome wasn’t in their hands. Victory was won by God through the hands of Moses being lifted to Heaven. This is a symbolic act for us to be reminded of the power of prayer and surrender. The battle is always in God’s hands and we need to have a posture of submitting and align ourselves with God through prayer in everything we do.

There is also great symbolism in this powerful scene. Picture Moses standing on a hill with his arms outstretched to God while the battle of two armies below unfolds. On one side of the battlefield is Israel who are God’s chosen people and symbols of salvation having been saved from the slavery of the Egyptians. On the other side of the battlefield is Amalek who are cursed by God and symbols of the flesh.

Jesus being the greater Moses also stood on a hill with his arms outstretched as the battle between salvation and sin unfolded. And as Jesus died at sunset, the victory over sin was won. And in that moment the prophecy of the Amalekites was fulfilled. Jesus would completely blot out our sins from under heaven and we are “set free from sin” (Rom 6:7).

Today’s Prayer: Help me overcome the daily battle with sin so that I can bring glory to Your name. Thank you that regardless of my struggle, you’ve blotted out my sins so that I can spend eternity with You.