Warring against the flesh!
All we have to do is to keep reading in the same chapter, Exodus 17. After the Israelites had the experience with the rock that was struck and the refreshing water, we read this:
“The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” 10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.”
Exodus 17:8-11 NIV
After seeing the rock that was struck and drinking in the refreshing water, the Israelites were ready to go to war. And during this attack, the Israelites won the battle in an unusual way.
Moses and two other men went up on a hill where Moses' held up his hands in prayer, interceding for the Israelites fighting in the valley below. As long as Moses held his hands up, the Israelites were winning.
The Man in the Middle Won the Battle
In other words, God made the outcome of the battle entirely dependent on what that man on the hill, in the middle of two others, did. Imagine the soldiers fighting in the valley, and then turning and looking up to the hill, seeing the man in the middle with his hands raised in victory, and the soldier fights on with supernatural strength!
We who believe in Christ are in a war all our lives. We fight against the world, the flesh, and the devil. We have been in bondage to sin long enough, and now we know we must fight. But we fight in the shadow of the cross, looking up to Mt. Calvary and seeing Jesus, the man in the middle with hands outstretched, and we know that He won the battle for us.
Summary: one chapter, Exodus 17, illustrates for us all three truths of washing at the cross, walking by the Spirit, and warring against the flesh.
Question 7. Do you see how Exodus 17 illustrates these marvelous truths and how they flow one to the other in a specific order? Please share your thoughts on this teaching today:
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Yes, I see that when we get to the cross and we have a drink of the Holy Spirit we can then go out to war against our flesh but not by might, always by the Spirit. I see that only if we wash at the cross can we succeed at walking by the Spirit and waging war against the flesh. For me, I have to remember to look at the cross intently on a regular basis to avoid the hardening of my heart. I need to remember that the Holy Spirit lives in me and so I will win the battle in a spiritual way. I'm thankful for this lesson.
In the next lesson, you will have an opportunity to share how God has worked in your heart through His Word and His Spirit during your time in this course.