Text: Exodus 17: 8-16

Introduction.

• Rephidim, place between Sim and the Sinai.
• It is the first armed conflict faced by Israel in the exit of Egypt.
• The first time Joshua is mentioned.
• Amalekites. Descendants of Esau. They formed a nomadic tribe in the desert.
• Joined with the Cananeus they attacked Israel several times. Even the kings Saul and David.
• Deuteronomy 25:17 informs us who the Amalekites attacked: " and they eliminated everybody that stayed behind".

• Preferred target of Satan. I Peter 5:8
• Without the will to seek the Lord. It pray, worship, witness.
• Illustration John 10: 10 -15. The sheep are attacked and abandoned.

• The minority stayed behind.
• Moses said: "Choose some men, go back and fight"
• Everybody stop to help. They could continue, flee.
• Remember the meaning of Bethesda: "House of Mercy"

• A circle is established:
• "Joshua and the soldiers fight - Moses pray - Hur and Aaron they hold their arms.
• This dynamic makes the church win and grow.
• Exodus 17:11 "While Moses maintain his hands raised".
• Hands raised = Total Dependency in God. Total surrender.

• Moses was not a super - man.
• He possessed a strong feeling of inferiority.
• See: Exodus 2: 11-15 and Exodus 3: 11.
• He depends on God and on others.
• The two pillars that sustain any shepherd.

• Hebrews 4: 14-16
• Moses is barely a shadow of what Jesus did.
• John 19: 17-18. Jesus had his arms open.
• Nobody could help him.
• Died for everybody.
• To give everybody the battles’ victory, including over death.

Conclusion.

• "We are in Rephidim". A desert where the enemy attacks.
• We need to help the tired.
• We form a body. We need one another.
• Because of Jesus, by what He did on the cross, we can raise altars of gratitude.
• "The Lord is our flag"