- 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. Exodus 17:12-13 – While the future of Israel would include many more battles, this was the first attack against God’s people beyond the enslavement in Egypt. We read that the attack ended with victory being given to the Israelites, but who are we to credit this victory towards? Joshua was the one on the battlefield leading the charge, without his valor and efforts the enemy would not have been defeated. Moses was the one in fervent prayer over the battle and we see whenever his hands dropped and the prayers faded, the enemy would find the advantage. Without Moses and his steadfast prayer they would have been defeated. Then there is Aaron and Hur, who held up Moses’ weary hands and without their support Moses wouldn’t have been able to do His part causing the battle to be lost. Who then was the one that brought Israel the victory? You likely know the answer already, none of these men. The Lord brought the victory to Israel, but these men faithfully served and the Lord used them to bring about the victory. Such is the story with the victories in our life. It’s not our valor or steadfastness or even our charitable help that is winning any victories in this life, God is the one who is bringing about the change in this world. The Lord though does call His people to act and move according to His word to bring change and victory through. So remember it’s not you that’s the victor or gamechanger, that’s all Jesus. Yet the victor that is Jesus is calling you to walk and fight alongside Him in this life, bringing your best to the field. Be the hands and feet that Jesus uses to bring about His victory. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3161
- Exodus 17 Daily DEVO And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” Exodus 17:7 – What will it take for some people to get that God is real and with them? These people have seen the sort of miracles that come once in eternity and still question if God is with them. We read about people who watched Jesus Himself heal and be Himself day after day and still cried crucify Him when the chance arose. We too are going to have people in our lives that have had every thing they could need to believe shown to them yet still refuse to accept it. What we must do is continue to pray and be open to sharing God’s love with them. Truly there isn’t anything else we can do. Just don’t downplay the importance of keeping on praying for them. While we may not be able to do anything, God can. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 811
- So Moses cried to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” Exodus17:4 – The tool they were going to use to stone Moses with God used as the source of their provision. Once again the people is Israel found themselves without water on their travels and they began to grumble. They were so worked up that Moses came to God fearful the people were going to stone him to death. God, as He always does, provided for His people but in a unique way. When Moses struck a rock, the water needed came out from it. Rocks were the threat yet rocks became the means of provision. God can take the tools of our adversaries that are meant to hurt us and change them to be the means of provision we all need. He can use the pressure they put on us to move us out of a spot we needed to move from. He can use their words meant to destroy us to create in us a greater dependency on Him. While the stones in their hand may still be thrown at you, trust God is powerful enough to take their stones and create life for you out of them. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1900
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