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3/6 Reading Portions: Exodus 17; Luke 20; Job 35; 2 Corinthians 5
Listen to the audio devotional above, and/or read the written devotional below.
“Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” Exodus 17:14
FLESH
This verse in Exodus would seem to suggest that the record of the battle against Amalek in Rephadim was the first recorded Scripture by the command of the LORD.
Chapter 17 begins with the congregation complaining that there was no water to drink (Exo 17:1-4). God commanded Moses to strike the rock before the people, and when he had done so, water came forth enough for them and their cattle (Exo 17:5-6). This foreshadowed the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, as He was the Rock in the wilderness (1 Cor 10:4) whereby, through the crucifixion of Christ, the Holy Spirit would be poured out for redeemed saints to drink (John 7:37-39).
Afterward, there was war with Amalek in Rephidim (Exo 17:8). While Moses’ hands were raised, Joshua was victorious (Exo 17:11). Amalek is a type of sinful man’s flesh. The Law, typified by Moses, is weak through the flesh (Rom 8:3a). Therefore, Jesus the King, as represented by Joshua fighting against Amalek, has defeated the vile works of the flesh as the One who became flesh, and in the flesh condemned sin (Rom 8:3b); because as our great High Priest , typified by Aaron, and as Christ the Prophet, typified by Hur, Jesus fulfilled the Law, and like Moses’ arms lifted up (Exo 17:12), Jesus upheld the Law high, to the heights of heaven, and raised the standard beyond our reach. Although we fail to uphold the Law to its holiest standard, in Christ Jesus,
…we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37
One day, the Lord Jesus will return and the promise of God will be fulfilled, when even the memory of Amalek, that is, our corrupt flesh, will be blotted out from under heaven (1 Cor 15:51-54). Hallelujah! What a Savior!
We must drink deep from Christ our Rock,
As battles with the flesh arise;
Soon flesh will end and sin will stop
For victory’s won in Jesus Christ.
