首遇敌人
出埃及记十七章8至16节
8那时，亚玛力人来在利非订，和以色列人争战。
9摩西对约书亚说：你为我们选出人来，出去和亚玛力人争战。明天我手里要拿着神的杖，站在山顶上。
10于是约书亚照着摩西对他所说的话行，和亚玛力人争战。摩西、亚伦，与户珥都上了山顶。
11摩西何时举手，以色列人就得胜，何时垂手，亚玛力人就得胜。
12但摩西的手发沉，他们就搬石头来，放在他以下，他就坐在上面。亚伦与户珥扶着他的手，一个在这边，一个在那边，他的手就稳住，直到日落的时候。
13约书亚用刀杀了亚玛力王和他的百姓。
14耶和华对摩西说：我要将亚玛力的名号从天下全然涂抹了；你要将这话写在书上作纪念，又念给约书亚听。
15摩西筑了一座坛，起名叫耶和华尼西（就是耶和华是我旌旗的意思），
16又说：耶和华已经起了誓，必世世代代和亚玛力人争战。
信息分享
你成了基督徒之后的多久，才发现自己仍会遇上各色各样的问题和试探？当你知道有一个敌人──撒但──在往后的日子，将会不断伺机来攻击你，你是否感到很震惊？昔日的以色列人同样要经历一个过程，才逐渐领悟这个真理。
今天读到的片段，是在以色列人离开埃及大约一个月后。他们此刻才突然发觉，他们的敌人原来不单是只最初追赶他们的埃及人；在神带领他们途经的路上，他们还会遇到其他的敌人。
请留意事件的重点：
第一，争战
亚玛力人是以扫的后裔。他们的部族一直占领和管辖那个地区。他们最初只会袭击一些流兵散将（参申二十五17-18），但如今，他们却公然攻击一个国家。
亚玛力人要阻挡神的百姓前进。在属灵的范畴里，亚玛力人代表了我们肉体中的罪性，它总是要想尽办法来阻挡我们与神同行。
第二，祷告
以色列人凭着甚么来与敌人争战，并将他们打败呢？他们乃是倚靠神的能力。当摩西拿着神的杖举手，就代表着神的能力与他们同在。摩西当然是在众民与敌争战的时刻，不住地向神祈求，求神帮助他们得胜。如今在天上的基督，也做着相同的工作：祂正不断为在地上争战的信徒向神代求（参来七25）。
然而，摩西始终是人，他举手不久便感到疲惫难支（12节）。他要亚伦和户珥站在他两旁托住他的双手。同样地，我们也极之需要其他信徒站在我们身旁，不住地用祷告来托住我们。
第三，胜利
以色列人终获全胜。可是，他们后来却仗倚自己的力量来与亚玛力人争战，结果大败。我们只有凭着信心的祷告，才能得着神所赐的力量。而且，我们亦只有靠着神的能力，才可以胜过我们的敌人。我们愿意学习这真理，懂得在祷告中支取神的能力，来应付生活中的大小争战吗？
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?