Read: Exodus 17:8-19:15; Matthew 22:1-33; Psalm 27:1-6; Proverbs 6:20-26
The Israelites have just gotten started on their journey when the Amalekites came out against them. Amalekite means “perversion”. God did an amazing thing with Moses’ staff. It took Aaron and Hur to hold Moses’ hand up so they could win. We learn that we were meant to fight our battles with the help of others. God promised to blot out the name of the Amalekites forever. They will be talked about many times after this, but would take Simeon and five hundred men to finally do it (1 Chronicles 4:42-43). Simeon means “hearing”.
We wrestle with the devil and all his demons but only King Jesus can defeat them once and for all. Notice that Moses and his leaders watched the battle standing and doing what God had told them to do. They never lifted a weapon except the rod. We lift up God’s Word and hearing what God tells us to do. He fights our enemy.
God sent Jethro, Moses father-in-law to help show him a more excellent way to lead the people without burning out. Jethro means “his excellence”. Moses took his advise and set up a government of godly men to help him administer justice to the people.
God called Moses to talk to him about the people. He told him that if they would obey him, he would be their God and they would be his treasured possession. The people agreed to obey God so God told Moses to get them ready to hear his voice. He would speak to them from the mountain but they needed to consecrate themselves for two days and on the third day he would speak from the mountain.
In Matthew, Jesus had just silenced the Sadducees so the Pharisees ventured to trick him with a question. They asked him which of the commandments was the greatest. Jesus said to love God was the first and to love one another was the second. All of the Law and the Prophets hung on these two commandments. How true. It starts with our heart toward God then our actions will follow.
Then Jesus asked them a question. They asked him whose son the Christ was. They said he was David’s since the Old Testament talks about the Messiah being the “son of David”. Jesus countered with, “then why did David call him Lord?” referring to Psalm 110:1. This silenced them all.
Jesus then turned to the crowd and exposed the religious leaders on both sides of their outward display of piety when their hearts were sinful and full of self.
Jesus was not afraid to offend the religious system of the day. The truth is that many came out of that system and followed him when they saw the truth in action. Jesus was authentic and that is what the world is looking for.
Lord, help us to live in the reality of who you are. Help us to stand and let you fight our battles.
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