The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 2 — Section 75

the friends and the enemies of God, between the Church of living believers and the world that hates am! seeh to destroy it, waging against it an incessant warfare. Consider- I. THE BATTLE. 1. How fouyht. Obderve (1) Fighting was in this case called for. It was not a case, like that at the Red Sea, where the Israelites could do nothing to help themselves. The co=and, accordingly, is not, "Stand still, and see the salva- tion of the Lord" (eh. xiv. 13), but, "Go out, fight with Amalek" (ver. 9). When means of help are put within our reach, God expects us to use them. He would have us exercise our own powers, still, however, in the spirit of due dependence upon him. "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God which worketh in you," etc. (Phil. ii. 12, 13). (2) The conflict was entered upon with a full appre- ciation of the gravity of the crisis. The leaders did not commit the error of despising their enemy. They knew how ill-prepared they were for entering upon a contest of the kind. There was no disguising the fact that the men of Israel were raw, undis- ciplined, wanting in courage, and prone to panic, while those of Amalek were men of the desert, bold, warlike, fierce, able to hold their own with the stoutest foe. This was the first battle of the former; it was but an episode in the life of continual warfare of the latter. Judged by appearances, the chances of war were, therefore, greatly against the Isrnelites, and it was felt that the most strenuous efforts, aided by earnest intercessions, would be needed to gain a victory. The Church, in like manner, will do well not to take too poor an estimate of her spiritual enemies. They are not to be made light of. They are not to be fought with sham weapons, or in the indolent, half-in- eamest spirit, with which so many are content to attempt the conquest. "We wrestle not against flesh and blood," etc. (Eph. vi. 12). The Church need not count on cheap victories. (3) The dispositions for the fight were made with skill and judgment. The men sent into the battle were picked men, and over them was appointed a brave general -Joshua (ver. 9). This is the first appearance of Joshua in the history, but he must have been already known to Israel as a man possessed of the strategical and other qualifications needful in a military co=ander. Another lesson as to the use of means, and as to the adaptation of means to ends in God's service. The battle was God's, but it was to be fought through human instrumentalities. The strongest, bravest, most valorous men in the camp were, accordingly, selected for the service. No measure was omitted which was likely to ensure success. It is the old law of the economy oi miracles. What man can do for himself, God will not work. miracles to do for him. Doubtless, but for Moses' intercession on the hill, the battle would still have been lost; on the other hand, had the military arrangements been less perfect, even Moses' prayers might not have turned the tide of conflict so decisively in favour of the Israelites. Cf. Cromwell's advice to his men-" Trust in Providence, and keep your powder dry." Note, further, how the same God who gave the Israelites a Moses, gave them also a Joshua, when a man of Joshua's gifts was specially required. Cf. with the promise as to Christ, Is. Iv. 4. It is for our own benefit that God thus summons our gifts into exercise, and furnishes occasions for their trial and development. 2. How won. First, as seen above, by dint of hard ficrhtincr, 0 but second, and more 3pecially, by Moses' intercessions. This portion of the narrative (vers. 10--12) is full :Jf richest instruction. Observe--{!) Moses took with him Aaron and Hur, and ascended to the hill summit, to watch the battle, and to pray (ver. 10). Advanced in years, he could not personally take part in the melee; but he could pray for those whc were in it. His prayer was as essential to success as their ficrhting. It was fighting of its own kind (cf. Col. iv. 12). Real prayer is hard, exhaust~ work. Even had Moses benn physically capable of taking part in the conflict, he was better employed where he was, in this work of earnest intercession. Gifts differ. Joshua's right place was on t.he lield; that of Moses, on the hill. Many can pray who are debarred from_ fighting, e.g_., invalids-Moses sitting on the stone (ver. 12), they, perhaps, lymg on their cuuches-<1.nd it is well for them to realise the value of their work, how much they cau still do, how useful they are. Note, also, it was in view oft.he battle that this iuter- cession of Moses was carried on. Prayer needs to be fed by knowle<lge, by w,1tcl..tful mterest in events as they shape themselves around us, by study of the specia_l nee,'.s of circumstances of the time. Of what essential service would it be in the warlare ul the Church were praying men and women to act more on this pri11ci1,le-seekiug, as far as possible, to keep themselves informed of tho progress and vicis~itudes uf tho Lora·~ 78 THE BOOK OF EXODUS. [en. xn,. 8-16.