Exodus 17:8 Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 14 And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. 15 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi: 16 For he said, Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.
This passage of scripture describes for us God's role as our defender, the one who fights our battles for us. The warlike tribe of Amalek had attacked Israel from their hindermost parts, preying upon the weakest and feeble, and because this action by Amalek was totally unprovoked, God stepped in and made a solemn promise to Moses and the Hebrews, that He will personally make war upon Amalek for doing this great evil. God is great in mercy and takes no delight in the destruction of the wicked, and thus, true to His unchanging ways, He gave Amalek a probationary period to repent of their wicked ways, but they did not. Then when all that could be done to change their hearts had failed, the tribe was finally eradicated from the earth and their name sank into oblivion.
This role of God as our defender is a sacred truth which must be treasured by the Christian, for like ancient Israel, we are also in a war with much more dangerous adversaries, who are bent on our destruction, and because we are in no position to deliver ourselves, God takes on the battle personally, to guarantee victory to those who trust in Him. Let's read:
Revelation 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. 17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
One aspect of this conflict that is currently being waged against us as Christians has to do with the battle for the souls of our children, who are naturally prone to choose evil instead of good, and at times we are harassed and perplexed by the enemy of souls, in that our kids sometimes manifest a stubborn resistance to anything that is good or right. It is at times such as these when the name Jehovahnissi takes on a whole new meaning, for the same God who waged war against Amalek from generation to generation, will fight for the souls of our children, and just like in the days of old He has confirmed this sacred truth by a solemn promise. Let's read:
Isaiah 49:25 But thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.
Whenever we are pushed to the very edges of insanity, whenever we feel like giving up hope for our children, let us remember this sacred promise, and persevere in pressing our petitions to the throne of grace, for the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will certainly wage relentless war against our enemies, and will deliver every one of our children who choose to be saved. So let's lift up those drooping heads, and look on the brighter side, for though it may take longer than we expect, the promises of God will be fulfilled in due season. We therefore end with a passage of scripture that promises deliverance to the faithful who trust in God and hope against hope, for God never forgets what He has promised, and though the enemies of righteousness may prosper for a while, yet they will fall and be broken by the omnipotent power of God, sooner or later. Let's read:
Deuteronomy 33:25 Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be. 26 There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky. 27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
May these promises resonate in our hearts as we face an untried week, for we walk by faith and not by sight. God bless!