Exodus II - Settling into the New Normal - First battle

by Pastor Joey Asher

Exodus 17:7
And he called the place Massah[a] and Meribah[b] because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
(IS THE LORD AMONG US?)

Exodus 17:8
The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.
(REPHIDIM IS REGION ASSOCIATED WITH GOD'S PRESENCE, HOLY GROUND)

Deuteronomy 25:17-18
Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. 18 When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and attacked all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God.
(AMALEK TREPASSED, OR PREVENTING ISRAEL GO WHERE THEY WANT TO GO, AMALEK USED WEAKNESS OF OPPONENT AND HIT HARD, AMBUSH THEM, THAT'S THEIR TACTIC)

1. God is never ambushed, even if we can't see the attacks coming
(WE CAN RELY ON GOD TO TAKE US THROUGH ANY DIFFICULTY)

Lesson 1:
GOD IS WITH US IN ALL OUR BATTLES, WHETHER WE SEE THEM COMING OR NOT

Exodus 17:9
Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”

Exodus 4:2
Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied.

Exodus 4:17
But take this staff in your hand so you can perform the signs with it.”

Exodus 4:20
So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt. And he took the staff of God in his hand.

God used staff everytime a miracle is to be performed. It is God's involvement with the Israelites, serve as a visual reminder to Israelites.

Lesson 2:
WHO YOU DEPEND ON DEPENDS ON YOU
YOU MUST DETERMINE IN YOUR HEART IF GOD IS YOUR X-FACTOR OR YOUR AXED FACTOR.

Exodus 18:10
He said, “Praise be to the Lord, who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians.

In facing difficulties in our lives, everybody has a part to play.

Lesson 3:
HOW WE PARTICIPATE IN A BATTLE CHANGES HOW WE PERCEIVE IT

Exodus 17:13
So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

Exodus 17:14-16
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. 16 He said, “Because hands were lifted up against[a] the throne of the Lord,[b] the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”

1 Chronicles 4:43
They killed the remaining Amalekites who had escaped, and they have lived there to this day.

Deuteronomy 25:17-18
Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. 18 When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and attacked all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God.
(THIS VERSE SHOWS THE RESULT OF PEOPLE WHO OPPOSE GOD)

God will eradicate evil and opposition at the end of time, nothing prevails against Him.

God is with you in your time of distress, and God defends you when you are defenceless.