Tues.’s Devo - War with Amalek

Read Ex. 17:8-16 The children of Israel meet their first opposer: the people of Amalek. Amalek comes from a root word meaning perverse. Perverse means to deviate from what is considered right or good: persisting in sin; stubborn. I wonder if that is the first spirit we face when we become Christians. It was certainly Eve’s. And obviously the early Christians had the same problem which Paul addressed extensively in Romans 7. The only way to win over it was to lift up God’s standard higher. Moses did but as he tired it took the help of Aaron and Hur. Aaron means “light-bringer” so he is a picture of the Holy Spirit who sheds light and illumines our way. Hur means “white” which stands for the holiness and righteousness of God. The Holy Spirit is our helper to enable us to walk in purity. When we lift up God’s standard we are enabled to win over perversity and our stubborn will. Moses named the place Jehvah-nissi which means: God, my banner. In the last verse God tells us that he will always be at war with this spirit of perverseness. Thinking back over this picture, Aaron was also Moses’ blood brother and sometimes we need a friend to help us in our walk. Ecc. 4:9-12 says “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls; for he has no one to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat; but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him, and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Jesus sent the disciples out in twos because he made us to need one another. Lord, give us a friend who will motivate us to love and good works.