With Uplifted Hands, The Victory is Won :: Exodus 17:8-14
Whenever the hand of Moses was raised, Israel prevailed and whenever his hand was lowered, Amalek prevailed. And the hands of Moses were heavy, so they took a stone and set it under him and he sat on it while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, from one side to the other side and his hands were steadfast until the going down of the sun. And Joshua weakened Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
[Prayer]
*O Lord, do not look upon our sin, but look upon your Son, lifting up his hands over the battlefield. Envelope us in his cross, that he be our victory-banner, so we may lift up hands to plead for mercy and in thanksgiving. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
[Introduction]
Forty days ago, we began our journey through the wilderness. We’ve met temptation and trial while walking with the cloud and fire of God’s presence. We’ve heard God’s desire to wipe out Israel. The saw the fire of his wrath consume the wicked. He struck us with leprosy. He opened the ground and swallowed the rebels. Even Moses lifted his hand in anger.
What has become clear throughout this journey is that no one is good; no, not one. All have turned aside. All have despised the gifts of God. All have fashioned idols to suit their own desires. All men deserve perdition instead of paradise.
Even in the midst of our rebellion, God’s servants lifted their hands every day in the sign of peace with the Benediction ... the good word of YHWH’s blessing, grace, and peace. We have journeyed through the wilderness under God’s grace.
Why then did Israel ask: Is YHWH among us or not?
Why do we?
In our reading from Exodus 17 tonight, just before this battle between Amalek and Israel takes place, Israel quarreled with Moses and with YHWH. They had been brought out of Egypt, carried through the waters into freedom, and then they looked around at the wilderness with all its dangers and difficulties, and they grumbled ... You’ve brought us out of Egypt to kill us and our children and our livestock!
Instead of flashing his anger, which he would be right to do, God instead gives and sustains them. The people drink of God’s gift of life ... and eat the bread of heaven ... and grumble some more: Is YHWH among us or not?
Are we too blind, too? Are we too stubborn, too?
Are our ears so blocked up with sounds of anger, betrayal, and gossip that we cannot hear? Have you not known? Can you not understand?
3. Just look at the hands!
The uplifted hands of God’s Redeemer spread over the Red Sea ... splitting the chaos in two ... and leading His people forth in joy. The lowered hands brought the same waters of salvation crashing over the pursuing army. Moses lifted up the Word of God ... the Covenant YHWH made with them ... and he sealed the covenant with the blood of sacrifice. The nobles of the Sons of Israel communed with God, eating and drinking. YHWH did not stretch out his hand upon the nobles in judgment, but grace.
Hands cleansed with clean water and made fit for duty lifted up the sacrifices for all to see. The victim is held up before God to announce proper payment for sin has been made, and the smoke of the lifting up of sacrifice billows toward heaven as a pleasing aroma to God ... a forgiving scent that brings delight to our God and peace to our bodies and souls. Hands are lifted up in the sign of peace, announcing God’s reception of the sacrifice. We are then given another day to count every breath, every step, and every heartbeat as a gift of God’s undeserved grace.
2. Let us then lift our hands in joy, praise, and thanksgiving.
But that’s not our reaction. Our typical sinful, ungrateful response is to raise our hands in anger, frustration, violence, and complaint when God doesn’t fit our narrative. We wonder why we live through the hell we deserve. We join the world with its ungodly words, ungodly thoughts, ungodly deeds. We lag behind in faithlessness. We separate ourselves from the congregation ... and the ancient enemy comes and nips at our heels with the desire to devour.
Instead of paying attention to the fire and cloud of YHWH’s presence before them ... Israel was busy questioning if he was with them. And Amalek came and waged war on Israel.
Moses tells us in Deuteronomy 25 that Amalek attacked Israel’s tail. Amalek went after those lagging behind as an evil nation waiting for some of God’s people to move their eyes, ears, and hearts away from God’s given path. This ancient enemy of God’s people will not rest but continues to poke, prod, and provoke to satisfy its unholy desire.
Amalek is a picture of your ancient enemy, Satan, who pulls your eyes, ears, heart, and mind away from God’s presence, provision, and paradise. The devil wants you to lag behind ... to forgo worship ... to neglect prayer. Satan wants you to question: Is YHWH among us in the midst of distress, disease, and death?
You say he is ... but you act differently. Even the smallest bit of faithlessness is an opportunity for the devil to nip ... to tempt ... to pull you away. Too many are taken. It’s a tragedy every time the almighty dollar shines brighter than the Lord who calls. It’s a tragedy every time we’re pressed by little things like Peter ... and deny him who bought us. All we can do is cry out: Lord, have mercy on us!
Therefore, repent and believe. He hears your cries. God does not forsake us.
1. He lifts his hands.
Moses said to Joshua, ‘Choose for us men and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will be standing upon the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.’ And Joshua did as Moses said to him ... And Moses, Aaron, and Hur ascended to the top of the hill. And it was, whenever the hand of Moses was raised, Israel prevailed and whenever his hand was lowered, Amalek prevailed. And the hands of Moses were heavy, so they took a stone and set it under him, and he sat on it while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, from one side to the other side and his hands were steadfast until the going down of the sun. And Joshua weakened Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
WITH UPLIFTED HANDS, THE VICTORY IS WON
The battle against Amalek is a foreshadowing of this Most Holy Day when our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ ... God’s Holy and Eternal Son ... had his hands lifted up upon the cross, and the Light of light was covered in darkness.
When they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!’ And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, ‘Certainly this man was innocent!’ And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts.
I decide to know nothing except Christ Jesus and Him Crucified. He is the victory banner of God’s judgment against sin and Satan. With uplifted Hands, He exposes the fullness of His innocent Body and Life to the Evil one. He is crushed for your faithlessness and sin. And He has prevailed. The cloud and fire of His presence remain. His final breath of earthly life is the first breath of Your freedom from sin, Satan, and death. As you continue to journey, be confident:
He has prevailed. He is with you. So let us pray this Hymn:
Abide with me, fast falls the eventide.
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies.
Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
Christ lived in your wilderness. He died in your darkness. He was laid in your grave. And He will arise ... in Jesus’ name.