March 1, 2026 - The War With Amalek and Jehovah Nissi (Exodus 17:8-16)

The War with Amalek and Jehovah Nissi (Exodus 17:8-16)

Rev. Myung-Sin Choi

8 Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9 And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. 14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner; 16 for he said, “Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.” 

Introduction

Last week we read about the event of Rephidim and as I watched this video clip, God allowed water to rush in through a splitting of a rock. When I read about these events, I am so thankful to God. Moses hit a rock with his rod and water rushed out of it. 2.5 million Israelites were able to drink from that water and were also able to provide water for their livestock. I am so thankful that there is scientific proof of this event. When I watched this video clip, I realized once again that our God is the living God and He is working even today. This same God is with us and is working within us. We must hold onto this. God will continue to bless and guide us. The blessings that the Israelites enjoyed, may we also hold onto and enjoy those same blessings. At the event at Rephidim, there were trials and miracles. When the rock was split, water started rushing out of it and it was able to provide water for 2.5 million Israelites. This was enough water for livestock to receive water and for people to bathe in. The Israelites were so amazed at this event because this unimaginable event occurred through a rock being split. But at that moment, as seen in today’s Biblical passage, Amalek came and attacked the Israelites. 

1. The War with Amalek

(1) The Attack from the Amalekites

Verse 8 - A war was about to happen because of this source of water. The Israelites were not ready at all for a war. They didn’t possess any weapons nor receive any military training. During this time of no preparation, Amalek came to fight a war with them. Who were the Amalekites? 

Genesis 36:12 “Now Timna was the concubine of Eliphaz, Esau’s son, and she bore Amalek to Eliphaz. These were the sons of Adah, Esau’s wife.” - The Amalekites were the descendants of Esau. The Amalekites also knew of and heard about the miracles and work of God. If they were descendants of Esau, that means that they were a brother nation to Israel but the Amalekites attacked the Israelites. Why did they attack them? They attacked the Israelites, I think, out of jealousy and anger. The Amalekites were descendants of Esau and Esau was the brother of Jacob. Jacob was seen as the father of the Israelites. That means that they were basically brother nations and family. But when the Amalekites saw all of the blessings and miracles given and performed for the Israelites, the Amalekites became jealous and angry. Why were the Amalekites acting like this? 

Hebrews 12:16 “Lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.” - The reason why Esau and Jacob became enemies was basically over a bowl of food. This was because Esau sold his birthright as an elder brother to his brother, Jacob, over a bowl of food. When Jacob came back from hunting, he was so hungry and he saw his brother, Jacob making some food so he asked Jacob for some food. But at that time, Jacob agreed to give Esau a bowl of food if Esau gave him his birthright. If it was a sane person, a person would say that is complete nonsense but Esau agreed to sell his birthright to Jacob, his younger brother. 

Genesis 25:32 “And Esau said, ‘Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?’ ” - Esau did not see value in his birthright and just gave it away for a bowl of food. God gave Esau grace with his birthright but Esau just gave it away. He looked at God’s grace lightly. What is the value of a birthright? Esau received the opportunity to receive great blessings through his birthright. But Esau gave all of his blessings and the blessing of being part of Jesus’ lineage just for a bowl of food. This means that he gave away Jesus. He gave away all of his grace and blessings that he received from God. He didn’t know the value of the covenant. If you give up God’s covenant then you are giving up everything. Through this one act of unbelief by Esau, great problems and sufferings came upon the descendants of Esau. That is why we must think about what we must do so that our future descendants can be blessed through us. We must not make the same mistakes as Esau. Through our decisions, our future descendants need to be blessed. 

We can see that Esau ignored the spiritual things in life. Even though Esau should’ve held onto God’s covenant and continued to give worship but he was just busy going hunting. He gave up his spiritual walk of faith and lost hold of the covenant. The great blessings are found in God who controls our entire life but Esau was busy following after the things of this world. We must open our spiritual eyes and see what is most important. 

(2) The Key to Victory or Defeat in War

Verses 9-11 - When a war breaks out, we must win. If we lose the war, then you will die. That is why Moses commanded Joshua to choose some men to fight and Moses will take the rod of God, and stand on the top of the hill. Moses said that he will go out with the rod of God. This rod of God represented the same rod that judged Egypt and performed great miracles for the Israelites. 

Verse 10 - This was the first war for Joshua and he never fought in his life. He could die in this war but Moses commanded him to do it, he was completely obedient to Moses. And Moses took Aaron and Hur and went up to the top of the hill. Hur was the husband of Miriam and Miriam was the sister of Moses. Whenever Moses would raise his hands, the Israelites would win but when he lowered his hands, the Amalekites would win. This was so strange and fascinating. Whenever Moses would raise his hands, the Israelites would win but when he lowered his hands, the Amalekites would win. What does this mean? Victory for this war was not determined by what the men did during the battlefield or how they fought. The outcome of the war was being determined somewhere else. It was being determined by the hands of Moses. I am sure Joshua and the soldiers experienced a strange phenomenon. Whenever they would fight, the Amalekites would push and be winning. But there would be some instances where the Israelites would push and start winning. But there were a few people who knew. The people on top of the hill knew of this. Our victory is determined not by what is happening in the field but it is determined by our spiritual state and the spiritual warfare that we fight. What happens in our field and life is determined by how we fight our spiritual warfare. The reality of our spiritual warfare is seen in today’s sermon. As we live our lives and as we go into our fields, there will be several different situations and events. What determines whether we succeed and overcome our situations depends on whether we stay vigilant in prayer or not. Whether we receive answers or not is determined by our prayer. We must open our spiritual eyes and hold onto this. 

Paul knew of this very well as it is written in Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” - Our warfare is not against flesh and blood, but with physical things. Our warfare is a spiritual warfare, against the rulers of the darkness. The darkness that we cannot see with our physical eyes, this is the warfare that we must fight against. God is telling us to raise our rod. Moses had to raise the rod. What was this rod? It was the name of Jesus Christ. Whether you succeed or not, depends on the name of Jesus Christ and whether we pray in His name or not. Nothing is impossible with the name of Jesus Christ. 

2. Israel's Victory

(1) The Field of Intercessory Prayer

Verse 12 - When Moses was getting tired of raising up his hands and the war was still continuing. Since the war was getting long, Moses was getting tired of raising up his hands. When you raise your hands for a long time, they end up getting weak and numb. The fact that Moses’ hands were getting tired shows that Moses was a mere human being. With Moses along, he was not enough and God’s power is what we need. We need to see that they won the war not with the power of Moses but by the power of God. The only way to win this battle was for Moses to raise his hands. This shows that we must look towards God alone. This was what it represented. If you are tired and lower your hands, then you think it is okay to slack off and stop praying. But Moses needed someone to help so Aaron and Hur came to him as coworkers. They bought a rock for Moses to sit down in and rest on. And also Aaron and Hur supported both arms of Moses so that they could help him. Moses had to raise his hands until sun down. Imagine how tired Moses must have been. Also imagine how tired Aaron and Hur were to raise Moses’ hands. Aaron was three years older than Moses too and Hur was probably 10 years older than Moses. They couldn’t sit down and had to continue to hold up Moses’ arms. These three old men had to continue to do this until sundown and until Israel won the war. What does this mean? When a problem arises, you need to continue to pray until the end and until an answer comes. This is the continuous prayer. You need to pray until God gives you an answer. 

The result is seen in verse 13 - Finally, the sun went down and God gave Israel victory. The reason why Israel won was because of three reasons. The first reason is because Joshua and the men went out to fight. When we go out into the field, we must go out and fight. These men risked their lives and fought in the war. God saw the Israelites as the most precious. Also secondly, Moses performed intercessory prayer for the Israelites. Moses prayed all day long and raised the rod of God until sun down. Since he did this all day long, I am sure they held their arms up and probably didn’t feel their hands. This shows the devotion of a spiritual leader. Lastly, this war would’ve not been won without the help of Aaron and Hur. Aaron and Hur held up the arms of Moses and they kept doing this until sun down. It wasn’t just Moses who was praying but Aaron and Hur who were praying alongside him. They prayed all day long. They prayed until their arms went completely numb. Because of this, they were victorious and darkness was able to break down. We must hold onto these three things. For our church to receive answers, we must hold onto these three things. I am sure the same victory that the Israelites experienced, we will also experience as well. 

(2) Jehovah Nissi

Verses 14-16 - God saw this as such an important and valuable event that God commanded Moses to record this and make a memorial for this. God is telling them to engrave and imprint on this. What does God want them to remember? They had oneness and received answers after they looked up to God alone. God commanded them to remember this and if they remember this, then they will have victory. Do you have problems in your field and family? Have oneness. Also sacrifices were made. When sacrifices are made, then memorable answers will come upon us. 

Verse 15 - Moses was so happy that he made an altar to God. It is written as an altar here but it is the same altar when you make a blood sacrifice. They named this altar, Jehovah Nissi, which means banner. This means that the Lord is their banner. This represented the victorious cross. Through the victorious cross, we will have victory. The king that will break the powers of darkness. 

Verse 16 - When they shouted Jehovah Nissi and made an altar, God was so happy and pleased. God was so pleased that God swore to them that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation. The Amalekites were already defeated and destroyed by the Israelites so what does it mean when God said that He will have war with them generation to generation? This represents the spiritual Amalekites. God is saying that He will fight against the spiritual darkness and forces of darkness that are within our generations. This represents the eternal victory of Jesus Christ. Through the cross, Jesus will have eternal victory. Those who hold onto Christ, then you will have eternal victory. From generation to generation, God will be our King and victory. Those who hold onto Christ, then great blessings will come to you. 

3. The Victor of Prayer

(1) Prayer during his childhood

Psalm 78:72 “So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.” - For David during his childhood, he always had communication with God. During his loneliness, he overcame it with prayer and worship. He always had joy through worship and giving praise to God. We need skills just like David. Through his talent and skill as a shepherd, he practiced so much that he was able to kill Goliath with just one throw. 

(2) Prayer during his adolescence

Psalm 23:6 “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.” - This was the confession of David during his most difficult time. This was the time when he was on the run and someone was coming after him to kill him. David’s confession was that he will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. This showed that David was always inside of prayer. Because David was always in prayer, he received constant guidance from God. 

(3) Prayer during his reign

1 Chronicles 29:14 “But who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You.” - David became king and he received all of the blessings. He received great glory as well but David still confessed that all things belong to the Lord God. He gave all of his glory to God alone. David truly had victory in prayer. May the same blessing of David come upon us. 

Conclusion

Hold onto John 14:14 “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” - A fight and a spiritual battle will come to us but God commands us to pray in His name. Pray in His name and have faith in God alone then God will give us absolute victory and answers.