Hope When You Are Under Attack

Sometimes God fights our battles and just wants us to rest in Him and watch as He brings us deliverance. We looked at an example of that last week, when the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea. God parted the waters so that His people could cross on dry ground, but then brought the water crashing down on the pursuing enemy. God’s people just watched as the entire Egyptian army perished.

At other times God involves us in the battle against our enemy. He expects us to be engaged in the fight. But even then, we must remember that God’s strength will win the day. He rescues us, sometimes when it seems like all hope is gone.

I watched “cowboys and Indians” on television during the fifties (yes, I am THAT OLD). A group of settlers, pulling their wagons across the prairie, would periodically encounter a band of Indians who would attack. The “good guys” would then circle their wagons to attempt to defend themselves. But inevitably, the Indians would gain the upper hand. Defeat was imminent. Suddenly, the U.S. Cavalry would arrive just in the knick of time, with bugles blowing and rifles firing. They would either kill the Indians, or more often, chase them off, to fight another day.

Exodus 17 illustrates how God sometimes invites His people to join Him in the battle:

“⁸ At Rephidim, Amalek came and fought against Israel. ⁹ Moses said to Joshua, “Select some men for us and go fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with God’s staff in my hand.”

¹⁰ Joshua did as Moses had told him, and fought against Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. ¹¹ While Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, but whenever he put his hand down, Amalek prevailed. ¹² When Moses’ hands grew heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat down on it. Then Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other so that his hands remained steady until the sun went down. ¹³ So Joshua defeated Amalek and his army with the sword.

¹⁴ The Lord then said to Moses, “Write this down on a scroll as a reminder and recite it to Joshua: I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek under heaven.”

¹⁵ And Moses built an altar and named it, “The Lord Is My Banner” (Exodus 17:8-15 HCSB).

What a great example of an earthly event that has spiritual application for us today. The Amalekites were biological descendants of Esau, Israel’s brother. Amalek attacked God’s people physically, with actual swords. Although we may not have any earthly assailants, spiritual enemies do attack. “¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12 ESV).

We are no match for these adversaries. They can outsmart us and overpower us. But the good news is that we are not alone in the battle. “¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:10-11 ESV). God fights with us and for us.

How did God’s people defeat the Amalekites? The answer is simple—GOD! When the battle ensued, Moses and two assistants went up on a hill. Moses lifted his arms toward the heavens and when he did so, the Israelites prevailed. When his arms dropped the enemy gained the upper hand. Lifting one’s hands was a common way to pray in that time. It still is. Moses’ raised arms illustrated both supplication to God and complete dependence upon Him.

Notice at least three applications for us today, in our spiritual battles. First, prayer is critically important. We cannot use earthly armament to fight against otherworldly foes. At the end of the Ephesians 6 passage about spiritual armor, Paul encourages us to pray persistently. “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” (Ephesians 6:18 NIV). Prayer is not the power, but is the means by which we call upon God and His might. If the battle rages on, don’t give up. Don’t worry. Continue to fight by lifting your hands and hearts to the Lord. “The closet (prayer) is not an asylum for the indolent and worthless Christian. It is not a nursery where none but babes belong. It is the battlefield of the Church; its citadel; the scene of heroic and unearthly conflicts” (E.M. Bounds).

Second, understand that we may grow weary in our battle. We may grow too faint to pray. So, we need others to support us. They may need to pray with us and for us when we can no longer persist. Moses grew tired. He could no longer hold up his arms. But Aaron and Hur provided much needed support. Find prayer partners that can stand in the gap when the battle extends beyond your endurance. Come along side others who you know are spent.

Third, remember the name of the Lord—Who He is and what He has done. Moses built an altar to the Lord after the victory over Amalek. He named it “The LORD is my banner”—“Yahweh-Nissi.” When future battles would arise (and they certainly came), the banner would be lifted up, for all to see. It served as a reminder of the Lord’s deliverance in previous skirmishes. The children of Israel needed to remember that Yahweh-Nissi was the source of their victory; He was with them in the fight.

What is your battle today? Are you growing weary? Are you losing hope? Look to the Lord our Banner. Remember who He is and what He has already done in your life.

Here are some verses of scripture to jog your memory and build your hope:

“³ For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:3-4 ESV).

“¹³ And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses. ¹⁴ He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; He triumphed over them by Him” (Colossians 2:13-15 HCSB).

“¹⁰ Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10 HCSB).

May God give you hope this week, no matter what battles you face.