Two months after their glorious departure from Egypt, the Amalekites attacked the Israelites near Rephidim. It is another obstacle along the way. The obstacles did not present themselves just like that. God sent them, often to discipline his people for their rebellion. He sent them to test their loyalty and trust.

The attack is brutal. From Deuteronomy 25:17ff, we learn more details. Moses at that time asks the Israelites to recall what Amalek did along the way. The people were to remember “when you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and cut off all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God.” The Amalekites drove a wedge between the people in the front of the group and those who were tagging behind. They separated the strong from the weak. We don’t read what happens after that. We can certainly imagine. At the least, it was enough to drive the encouragement out and the fear deeply into the people.

Moses, who was facing rejection, stepped in. He gathered his fighting men, led by his young aide Joshua, and rallied them to fight. He announced his intention to climb a nearby hill and to raise his staff to the LORD. The staff was the same staff which turned into a snake before Pharaoh. It ushered in the ten plagues. It separated the waters at the Red Sea. It brought the water from the Rock. It was the staff of God. It is the symbol of his power. When Moses climbed the nearby hill, he raised the staff with his two arms. “For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD.” It was a prayer to the covenant LORD. In this prayer, Moses the mediator for Israel, called upon the LORD to remember his steadfast covenant promises and to uphold his power.

Every time Moses raised his arms, holding the staff up high, the Israelites would advance. Every time Moses lowered his arms as they became weary, the Amalekites prevailed. Aaron and Hur held up the arms to ensure the victory. The strength and success of Israel’s army did not lay with Joshua and his soldiers. It lay with Moses’ mediation, and therefore ultimately with the LORD, to whom Moses appealed. Therefore the Israelites overcame the Amalekites that day. The LORD saves.

It was Israel’s first encounter with the enemy, after her departure from Egypt. It represents every enemy that Israel would face as they entered and conquered the promised land. Small wonder it is the Amalekites who attack. The Amalekites were the descendants of Amalek, the grandson of Esau. In this battle we have the age-old antithesis. Two nations in Rebekah’s womb fighting, and the elder will serve the younger. At first, it appeared that this prophecy would not hold true, that the elder would prevail. However, through the mediation of Moses, the promises and prophesies of God are fulfilled. It is the age-old antithesis between good and evil, between the church and the world. We understand from this passage that the elder still serves the younger. The LORD uses Amalek to humble his nation, to drive them to repentance, and to lead them to trust and salvation. In this passage, we receive the promise that the church will prevail. It prevails because of her Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ. With uplifted arms He was placed on the cross, to die for all our sins. Through his suffering and death the LORD leads us to victory. As Hebrews 7:25 states, Christ “always lives to intercede for them.” Christ is always there, including today, appealing to the Father’s love and pleading for Him to remember his mercy. Moses, as a human, became tired. His mediation was not perfect. Christ’s mediation is perfect. In Christ, the victory is certain.

When the battle was won, Moses built an altar and called it “The LORD is my Banner.” It served to give thanks to God and to remind the people constantly that as a people their identity was found in the LORD. He would lead the people in victory procession. As an army held up a banner to identify itself as it rallied into battle position, so the people of Israel held up the LORD, and his promises, and His Word, as their banner of identity.

It was a banner day. On this day the LORD once again demonstrated that He rules and leads his people to victory. This day near Rephidim proclaimed the coming Saviour and perfect Mediator Jesus Christ, who also leads us to victory. Eternal victory. Even though we face many enemies today, even though there are many obstacles, we will overcome them. Let us trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Let his cross be our banner. In his cross do we find all the promises and words of God encapsuled and fulfilled. Trust in the Lord. Follow Him. Appeal to Him. He helps us to overcome all our enemies.