Moses and Spiritual Battles

The whole conflict between Moses and Pharaoh, Israel and Egypt, is one of spiritual warfare. The battle with Satan’s magicians, Janees and Jambrees, the victory of God over the gods of Egypt through the plagues and the miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea all show God’s great power over Satan and His forces. He led them by the cloud of fire, by His very Shekinah Presence.

LESSON FOR TODAY:  God protected and provided, but the Jews had to learn to fight their battles in His strength.  God delivered them, but after deliverance (salvation) they had to learn to fight, as must we.God does not prevent the battles we have with Satan, but He does give us victory through them.  We are not exempt from warfare and never will be, but we have His promises of ultimate victory when we trust Him and follow Him.  Don’t waste energy and prayer time asking for the battle to be milder so you can manage, instead ask for greater strength so you can fight and win.  Don’t try avoiding the battle, face it right on.  And most of all, don’t compromise or give in.  Being taken captive by your enemies will NOT make your life any easier!

In their travel from Egypt to Mount Sinai the Jews had to travel near the land of the Amalekites. The Amalekites followed them, picking off the weak and sickly who weren’t part of the main body of Israel (Deuteronomy 25:17-18). 

LESSON FOR TODAY: Satan as a roaring lion looks for weak and sick sheep, those who aren’t with the main body, and easily picks them off (1 Peter 5:8).   We can’t fight alone; we must be close to the main army.  Be part of a sound Bible-believing church.  Be involved in its ministry.  Surround yourself with good Christian friends.  When you notice one of them drifting do all you can to bring them back to the fellowship. When you are being attacked let others know what they can do to help you.   Stragglers and the weak are easy targets for the enemy  Support those who are struggling and ask for help when you need it.

LESSON FOR TODAY:  Amalek is a picture of the flesh.  The flesh is always here to battle us.  Demons don’t always attack directly, they use our flesh (sin nature, natural tendency of self-centeredness and sin) as well.  In fact, many times they don’t have to do anything, they just let our sin nature defeat us.  We, like the Jews, must learn to have victory over the flesh by prayer and fighting.  Sins of the flesh include such things as lust, greed, laziness, self-indulgence, etc. – anything outside of God’s will for us, anything that keeps us from us from being more like Jesus.

God allowed Amalek to continually attack so the Jews would stop and fight.  They had to learn to fight.  They were armed by God after the Egyptian army drowned (Exodus 14:30) but had to learn to use their weapons.

The Jews experienced victory when Moses prayed and the army fought behind Joshua (Exodus 17:8-15).  Both were necessary for victory.  Victory over Amalek was only temporary, for there were many future encounters to come. 

LESSON FOR TODAY:  For us to have victory means we must pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17) for it is part of the weaponry God gives us (Ephesians 6:18).  We must also fight using the armor He has provided (Ephesians 6:10-17).  Prayer without doing our best in life’s battles isn’t enough; neither is doing our best but neglecting to pray.  It takes both faith and works for victory.  Our warfare with the flesh will never end.  Like the Jews with the Amalekites, battles will continue as long as we are on this earth.  Don’t ask God to remove the battle but to give you strength to endure.

What do you need to do today to have victory over Satan and his forces?  The battle won’t go away, so prepare for it. That’s the only way to victory.

 

(If I can answer questions or offer personal counsel, or if you would like a free copy of my Spiritual Warfare Handbook, email me at Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org or download it from http://sw.christiantrainingonline.org/.  My next book, Spiritual Warfare in the Bible, which is a more advanced treatment of spiritual warfare, is also available there for free.)

C t O Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
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