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Exodus 17:8-16 – Praying through the Bible #32 – A Prayer that is Acted Out
Every day, Israel needs God, for provisions and protection. The Amalekites “came and fought against Israel” (Ex 17.8). This is their first war. On the time-line of their journey, this is probably within the first few months (16.1). Israel is still a slave-like nation in mentality and ability (13.17). Once again God saves in a way unconventional, which is His conventional way. Moses says 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” (17.9). The battle is won on a hilltop, on a hill far away.
Imagine Moses holding his staff. Is it vertically pointing straight to heaven? Possibly, since the word banner (17.15) is related to a flag. If so, then the staff is the flag pole and the flag is God (17.15-16; Is 11.10). Is it horizontally – “Then Aaron and Hur support his hands, one on one side and one on the other” (17.12). This flag holding position would form a type of cross. Moses’ body would be the upright stipes with the staff forming the patibulum in the shape of a capital T.
Then something strange happens. “While Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, but whenever he put his hand down, Amalek prevailed” (17.11). First, why would God do this? I don’t know. Second, holding up a staff can become wearisome. Hold up your arms and noticed how quickly you tire. Third, naturally getting tired, Moses’ friends, Aaron and Hur, put a rock under him to sit on (17.12); people are relying on him. Fourth, “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.” To “hold up the hands” of someone is to support them, often times in prayer.
After the battle is won Moses builds an altar – the first altar built since to Yahweh since Jacob (35.7); and the first altar built in over 430 years (Ex 12.40). Moses names it, “Yawheh Is My Banner” (17.16), which sounds like a prayer. Moses considered his hilltop action as “my hand is lifted up toward the LORD’s throne” (17.16). When we lift up our hands to heaven, what are so doing (2 Tm 8)? Praying.
In this hilltop, acted out prayer, we learn valuable lessons. First, Israel defeats their enemy only when God defeats their enemy. All victories are victories of grace. Before this battle Israel tested God asking, “Is the LORD among us or not?” (17.7). The answer is yes. Second, prayers and acting out our prayers can become wearisome, but we must not give up or give in. Third, people count on us as is God’s plan. Fourth, we are not alone, and must rely upon our friends to hold up our hands.
Prayer Challenge: Negatively, let us not get weary; and positively let us enlist the help of others in prayers. Plus, after praying, get busy acting out our prayers. There is a time to wait on God and there is time to act out our prayers. Maybe God does not say yes more often because we give up too easily and don’t get busy obeying. Live the cross.
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