Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner

Exodus 17:8-16

The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”

When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.” Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. He said, “Because hands were lifted up against the throne of the Lord, the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”

Amalek was first among the nations, but he will come to ruin at last. (Numbers 24:20)

Joshua leads a picked force against the Amalekites, a nomadic tribe descended from Esau. But it is God who gives the victory, as Moses lefts his hands in prayer.

The Amalekites may have been driving the Israelites away from a fertile oasis.

After Saul's 'holy war' (1 Samuel 15) the Amalackites are hardly heard of.

Why?

Moses stood on top of the hill with the staff of God in his hands. Moses raised his hand like the banner of the Lord. So Moses built an altar to memoried this war and the victory is the blessing of the Lord.

Amalek means the world, it was the descendant of Esau. God will against the world, and the Amalekites from generation to generation.

Victory belongs to the Lord. Do we stand with the Lord?

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亞瑪利人來打仗，他們看到在利非地看到神蹟，為了爭奪水權而來打仗。

爭戰中讓百姓知道，神的同在。上次以色列人沒有打仗，由神自己出手，這次神要人一起參予。人必須在凡事，特別要在危難中依靠主。同時也提昇人的地位，與神同工。

得勝的關鍵在山上，不是在前線。表面上是人在打仗，其實是神為人打仗。得勝的關鍵在天上，不是在地上。不是我有能力能夠有成果，是神在天上的支持。禱告雖然是得勝的因素，摩西也要有亞倫、戶耳的幫助。我們不是靠禱告，不是禱告的人很厲害而是靠禱告是求神的憐憫。

記得我們能夠有什麼成果，都是神在做，成功的因素是神，靠著那加給我力量的，我什麼都能做。

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How?

The Lord is my Banner, with the flag of the Lord means I am obey God's word and under the blessing of the Lord.