8th September 2025

8th September 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Exodus 17:8-16 focus v8-9)


Message (Alan Burke) 


Wars rage all over the earth, we watch on from afar forgetting that for the believer, for those in Christ we are at war. It is a war that is fought against the world the flesh and the Devil (Eph 2:2-3). We face things because of the world that we live in, the culture that surrounds us which is ruled by the Devil himself. While the Devil longer rules over us for we have been freed by Christ but he can stir up trouble in our lives using those who are under his power and dominion and we are also battling against the flesh, the desires of the body, the old man, the old self (Rom 6:6) that is waiting to get out, re-emerge for the remnant of sin abides in us. 


As we come to this passage remember where the people of God were, what they had faced the temptation of the flesh in v1-7, they doubted the providence of God and now they are going to face the world and the Devil head on. Up to this point the enemy that the people faced was that of the flesh, the enemy from within, the sin of the people that was ever before them, but now the enemy was an external one, it came in the form of the Amalekites who began by raging a guerrilla war on the people of God brought about by the Devil himself. From the internal threat, to the external threat of the people of God the account now turns. 


In this we are reminded how that for the believer it is from within and from without, until we go to be with our Lord or he returns whichever comes sooner we battle the internal draw of sin, the flesh, in our lives and we also face the external battle in living as the children of God in the world that hates us, as Jesus reminded his disciples. For we do not belong to this world, we have been chosen out of it (see Jn 15:18-25). 


Here their enemies come and attack the Israelites in the wilderness. It was unprovoked, they were weary and worn out, there were stragglers, probably the elderly, the young mothers and their children, the sick, along with some animals and possessions and it is these that Amalekites attacked, those who lagged behind. 


The ethical question has been asked throughout the ages is there any honour in war? Well in this case for sure there wasn’t honour in the actions of the Amalekites towards the people of God, cutting off all who were lagging behind. There was no provocation, there was no warning, the Amalekites attacked. This is the first time the people of God had faced such an encounter. They were not soldiers but redeemed slaves. This wasn’t a division of the British Army on manoeuvres, with their family in toe, this was a people who had lived their entire lives as slaves until the Lord their God redeemed them from slavery. 


This is the first time we hear of the Amalekites in scriptures, they come as an external threat to the people of God, they are being used by the Devil himself. The Devil by his schemes is seeking to do all that he could to wipe out the people of God to thwart the plans and purposes of God to fulfil the promises that he had given to Adam, to Abraham, to Jacob of one who would come, who would bring a blessing to all the nations of the earth. The Lord had promised a redeemer and the Satan was seeking to stop the Lord’s plans before they had come to fulfilment. 


Brothers and sisters, we will face many things in this life, the world the flesh and the Devil (Eph 2:2-3) are against us as the people of God. But know this that Christ has had the victory and the Devil is like a dog on a leash only going as far as the Lord our God allows him (Job 1:12). While might fall into sin because of our old man (Rom 6:6), while we may face much from the world and the Devil our salvation is secured because the Lord though his Christ has atoned for your sin securing you the ultimate victory.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q68 What is required in the sixth commandment?
A. The sixth commandment requireth all lawful endeavours to preserve our own life, and the life of others.
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