Standing for Each Other's Victory

 

There is a powerful lesson about intercessory prayer in  Exodus 17:8-16.  Verse 8 says, “Then came Amalek.”  It was Israel’s first adversary in the wilderness after they had left Egypt.  The Amalekites were descendants of Esau (Genesis 36:12) and they attacked Israel from the rear and were a thorn in their side for many years to come (Deuteronomy 25:17, I Samuel 15).  “Then came Amalek”, could represent many things: our problems, our troubles, our adversaries, our headaches. Things that drive us crazy!

Joshua was instructed to gather men to fight while Moses went up on top of the mountain to pray along with Aaron and Hur.  As it turned out the battle was not with those fighting on the field, but with the intercessors on the mount.  God gave the victory as Aaron and Hur held up the hands of Moses.

How long does it take us to learn that intercessory prayer is more important than our organizations, armies, wealth and education? There is nothing we can do more important than pray.  A praying man, a praying church, a praying nation, cannot be beaten!  All of our victories are prayer victories.  All of our defeats and losses are because we fail to intercede.

Notice one more valuable lesson from this text.  Moses did not succeed alone, he had Aaron and Hur to help him, to sustain him, to stand by his side.  As we help each other, pray for each other, we gain victory over our problems (our Amalekites).  Never underestimate the power of intercessory prayer!



The Pastor's Pocket

Pastor Bruce Freeman


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