In Exodus 17, we read of Israel going to war with the Amalekites. Moses sent Joshua out to battle but remained behind to pray. While Moses’ hands were lifted up, Israel was victorious. When Moses’ hands were weary and slipped down, Israel suffered defeat. So Aaron and Hur supported Moses and lifted his hands. As a result of Moses’ prayers, Israel had a great victory that day.
Let us consider how battles can be won through prayer.
I. INTERCESSORS MUST PRAY WHILE SOLDIERS FIGHT.
Exodus 17:9 tells us that while his spiritual son fought the war, Moses remained behind to pray. What an example of a spiritual father! No wonder Joshua became a great leader; he had a spiritual father who prayed for him. Many people enter into spiritual warfare without prayerful support. Perhaps this is why there are so many casualties in the Christian faith. People fail to pray. Many do not have spiritual fathers to pray for them.
Let us look at what Moses did.
A. He stood. Standing speaks of alertness. An intercessor is not a watchman; an intercessor pleads for or intercedes on behalf of someone else.
B. Top of the hill. Standing at the top of the hill gives a person an overview of the battle. An intercessor should be able to see God’s overall purposes so that he will have spiritual insights on how to pray.
C. Rod of God in his hand. Holding the rod speaks of authority. The rod was given to Moses as a sign of Moses’ leadership. Moses used the rod to defeat the Egyptian sorcerers and to open the Red Sea.
We must use our authority over the devil when we pray. When we come against the devil in the name of Jesus, we have authority over him. We are to pray with the authority God has given to us.
II. A WEAKENING OF INTERCESSORY PRAYER WILL LEAD TO DEFEAT.
The evidence in Exodus 17:11 is clear. When prayer stopped, the Amalekites prevailed. In Matthew 26:40-45, we find that Jesus’ disciples could not stay awake to pray with Him for even one hour. The disciples paid a high price for not praying. Within a few days of their prayerlessness, they were scattered as Jesus was crucified. Peter denied Jesus three times. The rest of the disciples ran away as Jesus died on the cross. Only the women were left to look after His body. I often wonder if the scenario would have been different if the disciples had prayed with Jesus at Gethsemane.
III. ONE STRONG INTERCESSOR IS INSUFFICIENT; A TEAM IS NEEDED.
Exodus 17:12 tell us that Moses’ arms grew tired and had to be supported by two strong men, one on each side. Sometimes we think we can leave prayer to those we consider God’s appointed intercessors. The truth is that we can’t. Everyone is called to be an intercessor. Even the Son of God needed His disciples to pray with Him at Gethsemane (Matt. 26). How much more we as mortal beings need intercessors to pray with us in our time of need.
IV. INTERCESSORS MUST RECORD, RECOUNT, AND PASS ALONG THEIR PRAYERFUL LIFESTYLE.
In Exodus 17:14, Moses gave two instructions: write and recount the story, especially in Joshua’s hearing. Moses wanted Joshua to know what had happened on the hill while the battle was being fought in the valley.
Are you recording your prayers? Are you recording God’s answers to your prayers?Are you sharing your testimony? Are you passing this praying lifestyle on to the next generation? Much is lost when the prayerful lifestyle of the revival generation is not passed on to the next generation. All revivals are birthed in prayer, and revivals must be sustained by prayer.
V. INTERCESSORY PRAYER CREATES A BANNER OF PROTECTION.
We read in Exodus 17:15 that Moses built an altar and called it “the Lord is my banner.” God’s name Jehovah Nissi comes from this passage. Intercessory prayer creates a banner of protection over God’s people. What better way to end this lesson than by remembering that God is our banner. People often assume that the banner will always be there; in fact, when Moses failed to pray, Israel lost the battle. The banner is over us only when we pray.
CONCLUSION
What a powerful example of how prayer can make us victorious! Many are living in defeat because they do not pray. If you want a triumphant spiritual life, start praying today. Record your prayers and God’s answers to your prayers. Prayer will surely bring new vigor to your spiritual life
General Conference Ministerial Association
"Let every hour be one of trust and prayer and faith. You may expect trials. We must all be purifi ed from dross, and made white and tried. In the time of trial, seek to bring every thought into captivity to Jesus Christ. One foe after another may come in unexpected ways, but dismiss the temptations of the enemy. In this way, we go on from grace to grace, from strength to strength, obtaining one spiritual victory after another."
Ellen G. White - Daughters of God, page 184
