Read: Exodus 17:8-19:15; Matthew 22:34-23:12; Psalm 27:7-14; Proverbs 6:27-35
The word “Amalekites” mean “perverse”. Websters defines “perverse” as deviating from what is right; wicked; wrong, improper, corrupt; obstinately disobedient or difficult. These people stood for the spirit of perversity. The only way Moses could defeat them was to keep his hands raised as a picture of God’s supreme power over them. When they overcame them, God told Moses to write down that He would completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. He told him to make sure Joshua heard it. God knew that Joshua would one day lead the people into the promised land and he wanted him to know this was an enemy to defeat.
God also told Moses that God would be at war against this spirit from generation to generation. We see that spirit of perversity alive and well in our generation.
Moses was reunited with his wife and sons and was glad to tell the stories of their deliverance to his father-in-law, Jethro. Jethro was able to encourage him and give him some wisdom about leading so he wouldn’t burn out. Moses heeded his advice and appointed men to help him lead the people and make decisions based on the law of God. Interesting that Moses taught them the decrees and laws and duties when the written law hadn’t been given yet. He lived by the conviction of his heart.
God was ready to give them his written law so he told Moses to tell the people to consecrate themselves and wash their clothes because in three days He was going to visit them and give them the law. They would be summoned to the mountain by a long blast of a trumpet that God would sound.
In Matthew, Jesus had silenced the Sadducees so it was now up to the Pharisees to silence Jesus. They came up with their trick question: Which is the greatest commandment?
Jesus’ response was to love God first then to love others. The rest of the commandments will be fulfilled if they do these two things. They could not argue that.
Then Jesus tricked them with a question. He asked them whose son was the Messiah’s. They answered that David was his son. Then Jesus asked them how David would call God, Lord if he was his father. They couldn’t come up with an answer so they stopped asking him questions.
Jesus warned the people that the teachers of the law were in the seat of authority, so they were to do what they said, but not as they did because what they said and what they did contradicted one another. The teachers of the law wanted the people to call them “Father” and “Rabbi” but they shouldn’t ask that of the people because they were not their father or their teacher. Only the Messiah would be their teacher and only God would be their father.
Lord, we choose to love your first and love your people second. Help us to keep our priorities straight.
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