IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Prayer Brings Victory

Date: Mar. 10, 2021

Passage

Exodus 17:8-16

Israel Defeats Amalek

8 Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. 9 So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.

14 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The LORD Is My Banner, 16 saying, “A hand upon the throne of the LORD! The LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

Daily Bread

Key Verse: Exodus 17:11

Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed.

1. Go into battle with prayer (8-13)

After God had provided water, the Amalekites attacked the Israelite camp at Rephidim. The Israelites were all newly freed slaves with no military experience. Joshua chose some men to fight but Moses knew that only God could give them victory. He saw that this physical battle would need to be fought on a spiritual level. Moses went up on a hill and lifted up his hands as he held the staff of God. So long as his hands were up, the Israelites were winning. With Aaron and Hur's help, Moses kept his arms up and God gave his people victory. Victory comes when we pray and support others in the spiritual battle with prayer.

2. The LORD is my Banner (14-16)

The Amalekites' attack was to be remembered. Moses built an altar to commemorate the LORD's victory in the Israelites' first battle. Furthermore, the altar reminded the Israelites that the LORD will be against those who raise their hands against him. The LORD would punish the Amalekites in the future (Dt 25:17-19).

Prayer: Father, I lift my hands to you and ask for your justice and victory over your enemies. Help me to support others in their spiritual battles.

One Word: Depend on the LORD in prayer

Daily Bread

God is Our Deliverer

Psalm 78:40-72

Key Verse: 78:65

Then the Lord awoke as from sleep,
like a strong man shouting because of wine.

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