The battle with the Amalekites is Israel’s first battle as a free nation and, in a sense, this battle becomes indicative of how all battles are to be fought in the future. The key element in the battle is the prayer of Moses symbolised by his raised hands. As long as Moses’ hands were lifted up the Israelites would have the upper hand in the battle, but if Moses lowered his hands the Amalekites would begin to prevail over them. As they realise this, Aaron and Hur take to holding Moses’ hands up. God was calling his people out into a different kind of life, a life of faith. That meant that prayer was the key to them moving forwards in God’s purpose. If they were to become what God was calling them to be they must move forwards in faith and through prayer. Prayer would be the key to opening up the future that God had for them. This is a good reminder for us since, through Christ, we have been called into a life of faith. To live by faith means to move forwards in dependence on God and we express this dependence through prayer. Prayer is the recognition of our need of God. You can live a ‘normal’ life without God, but you cannot realise God’s purpose for you without him. There are things that God wants to do in you and for you that are beyond what is naturally possible. To pray is to step up into God’s purpose and draw on his promises to see that purpose realised.
Ask God to do things today in and through your life that you could not naturally achieve.
Read Exodus 17:8-16.
