Lifting Moses' Hands | Into The Wilderness | Barry Rodriguez
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ต.ค. 2019
- Exodus 17:8-9
While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek attacked them. Moses commanded Joshua, “Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.”
So you’ve got these three lines all coming down from the same family. The Israelites, the Midianites, and the Amalekites. What matters in this story, is how they respond to the promises of God.
The Amalekites weren’t just wandering mercenaries. They were a nation seeking to stand in the way of the promises of God.
This story is not just about a random battle. This story is about whether God will keep his promises when the world wants anything but…
God has made promises to you. He will see you through this wilderness. He will bring you to the Promised Land - the New Creation. Life. Harmony. Provision. Joy. Peace. That’s what lies ahead. That’s what’s been promised through Jesus.
What happens when those promises are threatened by forces beyond your control? What happens when the Amalekites show up and try to snuff you out?
Exodus 17:10-19
So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle.
After the victory, the LORD instructed Moses, “Write this down on a scroll as a permanent reminder, and read it aloud to Joshua: I will erase the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-Nissi (which means “the LORD is my banner”). He said, “They have raised their fist against the LORD’s throne, so now the LORD will be at war with Amalek generation after generation.”
There’s nothing magical about the staff. Moses is not Gandalf.
It was just a piece of wood Moses used when he was a shepherd. Something for Moses to lean on while waiting for his sheep to finish their lunch. But now, when Moses uses this staff, it’s a symbolic act which loudly proclaims, “I trust you, God!”
When we are in the wilderness, trusting in God’s strength - raising his banner - is the only way we can make it through. We’re not strong enough, we’re not smart enough, we’re not clever enough - to overcome the brokenness of our world on our own.
When we are in the wilderness we must trust in God to see us through.
But… What do we do when our strength starts to fade? What do we do when our trust starts to waver? When our arms get a little shaky?
It’s in those moments we must remember that we do not face this wilderness alone. Yes, God is with us, but so is our community.
This is why no Christ-follower is an island. We need one another. We need community. Because on your own, yes. Your trust can start to waver.
When you’ve been battling that disease for years, it’s hard to keep trusting, isn’t it?
When you’re depressed, again, that staff feels awfully heavy.
When you have people constantly undermining you, how long can you really hold out hope?
Your trust can falter in the wilderness. But in those moments - in the church? In the body of Christ? - your spiritual family can trust with you.
Because you are not in this wilderness alone.
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'You Were Made for More' because God created you ON purpose FOR a purpose. This is the vision of Grace Church, led by Pastor Barry Rodriguez and based in Indianapolis, IN.
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Beautiful 😍 Great job...thanks Pastor..love you in Christ Jesus ❤️
True
Can't sleep 😕 thanks Timely Word 😊
Glory to God. Praise God for preaching mimisters of the Word of God
Thank you God bless you- continue using you for His people and glory, amen amen
I love this. The Bible is so beautiful and not complicated. God wants us to understand. It goes back to Isaac and Ishmael. And is still happening today with Islam. Someday we will see God’s Glory when he wins in the end!
Such amazing scripture ❤️
Pray for me for strenght thanks
Praise the God Jesus 🙏
Praise God hallelujah
Ok