首遇敵人
出埃及記十七章8至16節
8那時，亞瑪力人來在利非訂，和以色列人爭戰。
9摩西對約書亞說：你為我們選出人來，出去和亞瑪力人爭戰。明天我手裡要拿著神的杖，站在山頂上。
10於是約書亞照著摩西對他所說的話行，和亞瑪力人爭戰。摩西、亞倫，與戶珥都上了山頂。
11摩西何時舉手，以色列人就得勝，何時垂手，亞瑪力人就得勝。
12但摩西的手發沉，他們就搬石頭來，放在他以下，他就坐在上面。亞倫與戶珥扶著他的手，一個在這邊，一個在那邊，他的手就穩住，直到日落的時候。
13約書亞用刀殺了亞瑪力王和他的百姓。
14耶和華對摩西說：我要將亞瑪力的名號從天下全然塗抹了；你要將這話寫在書上作紀念，又念給約書亞聽。
15摩西築了一座壇，起名叫耶和華尼西（就是耶和華是我旌旗的意思），
16又說：耶和華已經起了誓，必世世代代和亞瑪力人爭戰。
信息分享
你成了基督徒之後的多久，才發現自己仍會遇上各色各樣的問題和試探？當你知道有一個敵人──撒但──在往後的日子，將會不斷伺機來攻擊你，你是否感到很震驚？昔日的以色列人同樣要經歷一個過程，才逐漸領悟這個真理。
今天讀到的片段，是在以色列人離開埃及大約一個月後。他們此刻才突然發覺，他們的敵人原來不單是只最初追趕他們的埃及人；在神帶領他們途經的路上，他們還會遇到其他的敵人。
請留意事件的重點：
第一，爭戰
亞瑪力人是以掃的後裔。他們的部族一直佔領和管轄那個地區。他們最初只會襲擊一些流兵散將（參申二十五17-18），但如今，他們卻公然攻擊一個國家。
亞瑪力人要阻擋神的百姓前進。在屬靈的範疇裡，亞瑪力人代表了我們肉體中的罪性，它總是要想盡辦法來阻擋我們與神同行。
第二，禱告
以色列人憑著甚麼來與敵人爭戰，並將他們打敗呢？他們乃是倚靠神的能力。當摩西拿著神的杖舉手，就代表著神的能力與他們同在。摩西當然是在眾民與敵爭戰的時刻，不住地向神祈求，求神幫助他們得勝。如今在天上的基督，也做著相同的工作：祂正不斷為在地上爭戰的信徒向神代求（參來七25）。
然而，摩西始終是人，他舉手不久便感到疲憊難支（12節）。他要亞倫和戶珥站在他兩旁托住他的雙手。同樣地，我們也極之需要其他信徒站在我們身旁，不住地用禱告來托住我們。
第三，勝利
以色列人終獲全勝。可是，他們後來卻仗倚自己的力量來與亞瑪力人爭戰，結果大敗。我們只有憑著信心的禱告，才能得著神所賜的力量。而且，我們亦只有靠著神的能力，才可以勝過我們的敵人。我們願意學習這真理，懂得在禱告中支取神的能力，來應付生活中的大小爭戰嗎？
MEETING THE FIRST ENEMY
Exodus 17:8-16
8 Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim.
9 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.”
10 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.
11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
12 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.
13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
14 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.”
15 And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-LORD-Is-My-Banner;
16 for he said, “Because the LORD has sworn: the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”
Message
How long after you became a Christian, did you discover you still had problems and temptations? Was it a shock to you to find you had an enemy, Satan? The people of Israel had to learn this truth, too.
Israel had left Egypt about a month before this story took place. Now suddenly they discovered that not all their enemies were left behind in Egypt. Here is one who opposed them in the very road God had planned they should take.
Notice the points in the story:
- Conflict
The Amalekites were descended from Esau. They were tribes people who controlled that area. At first they attacked only stragglers (see Deuteronomy 25:17-18). Now they opened attacked the whole nation.
Amalek tried to stop God's people going on their way. In this, Amalek represents the flesh, our old sinful nature which tries to stop God's people going on their way. In this, Amalek represents the flesh, our old sinful nature which tries to stop us going on with God.
- Intercession
How was Amalek to be met and conquered? By claiming God's power over the enemy. Moses held up the rod, symbol of God's power and presence, and without doubt, he was praying at the same time. This is what Christ is doing for us now. It is his present ministry for us (Hebrews 7:25).
But Moses was only human and he soon became tired (v.12). He needed someone like Aaron and Hur to stand along-side him. We can be greatly helped day by day those who stand with us in daily prayer for us.
- Victory
Israel was victorious that day. Later they tried to flight Amalek in their own strength and were defeated. God's strength is given in answer to believing prayer. Only as we stand in this strength can we even win against our enemies today. Dare we begin to really learn that truth?