THE POWER OF AGREEING PRAYER

Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword. (‭Exodus‬ ‭17‬:‭8-13‬ ESV)

In this passage, Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim: This was an unprovoked attack by Amalek against Israel. In response, Moses called Joshua to lead the armies of Israel into battle, to defend the nation against the attack from Amalek.

The method of attack used by Amalek was despicable.

Deuteronomy 25:17-18 says: "Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God."

Now, Moses and Joshua worked in tandem together to defeat the Amalekites.

John Maxwell once said, "If I'm know that there is a bumpy road ahead - I want to make sure that I take someone with me."

This passage speaks a number of things to me:

1- Moses was the patriarchal leader still giving directions to Joshua and the people of Israel.

2- Joshua did as Moses told him.  This is the first mention of Joshua in the Bible.  He served Moses and the Lord faithfully.

3- Moses stood on top of the mountain praying for Joshua while he fought in the battle.  He was behind the scenes praying.  The fate of Israel was dependent on Moses' intercession because when he prayed Israel prevailed and when he stopped praying Amalek prevailed.

4- Even though Moses at times got tired - there were those surrounding him to help him and intercede with him.  His hands were strengthened in prayer.

Life and death depended on his prayers.  Shouldn't this be the way that we pray - as if life and death depended upon it.

In Moses' early days - all he knew to do was to fight (Exodus 2:11-15).  Now God was calling him to lead and pray.  Other's were doing the fighting now.

Moses' hands became heavy: The job of supporting the battle in prayer was difficult and Moses could not easily continue. We might think that fighting was the hard work and praying was the easy work, but true prayer was also hard work.

Prayer is sometimes sweet and easy; other times it is hard work. This is why Paul described the ministry of Epaphras as always laboring fervently for you in prayers (Colossians 4:12), and why Paul wrote we must Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2).

Aaron and Hur supported his hands: Aaron and Hur came alongside Moses and literally held his hands up in prayer. 

They helped him and partnered with him in intercession. Their help was successful: his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

Though this was Moses' work to do, it was more than he could do by himself. Moses alone could not win the battle of prayer. He needed others to come by his side and strengthen him in prayer.

So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword: Because of this work of prayer Israel was victorious over Amalek. We are left with no other option than to say if Moses, Aaron, and Hur did not do the work in prayer, Israel would have been defeated, and history would have been changed.

This amazing passage shows us the great importance of prayer. Life and death - the course of history itself - depended upon prayer. We can conclude that many times the people of God are defeated today because they will not prayer, or their work is not supported by prayer.

Later in this chapter Moses is encouraged by God to build an altar called JEHOVAH NISSI - "The Lord Is My Banner" because God had given a victory over the Amalekites.

Perhaps you are tired and weary today.  I pray that God would bring alongside you someone who can hold your arms up and encourage you the assignment given to you by God.  

Or, perhaps God is calling you to come alongside someone else and lift their arms up also.  

Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (‭Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭19-20‬ ESV)