You can (not) always win
The wilderness wandering of the people of Israel between Egypt and the Promised Land is an image of the discipleship of Jesus. When the Israelites encountered the hostile Amalekites, they were able to achieve victory through a two-pronged strategy: Prayer and attack. With this strategy, a follower of Jesus will also be victorious in the confrontation with his challenges.
When the Swiss national football team was eliminated in the quarter-final against England on penalties, some people used the phrase «You can’t always win». It is a phrase that we often need when we have experienced disappointment or have not delivered according to expectations. When we march together with God, the «not» is crossed out. With Him, every person is on the winning side. Winners run under His banner. This bold statement should be verified by the history of the people of Israel. The 40-year wilderness wandering after the exodus from Egypt is an image for following Jesus.
Our «Amalekites»
«When the Israelites were still camped in Refidim, they were attacked by the Amalekites» (Exodus 17:8 NLB). The Amalekites were the Israelites» worst enemies. They kept popping up and wanted to make life miserable for the people of Israel. This is the reason why God wants to radically destroy them: «Then the LORD instructed Moses, «Write this down as a memorial and impress it on Joshua: I will destroy the Amalekites so that no one will remember them» » (Exodus 17:14 NLB). Around 400 years later, the Amalekites become a snare for King Saul. Because he had not completely wiped them out after winning the battle, he was rejected as king (1 Samuel 15).
Even in the life of a follower of Jesus there are «Amalekites», enemies who want to make life miserable. Our «Amalekites» are not warriors with armour, horses and chariots. Paul identifies them as follows: «For we do not fight against men of flesh and blood, but against the evil powers and forces of the invisible world, against those powers of darkness that rule this world, and against the evil spirits in the heavenly world» (Ephesians 6:12 NLB).
They are enemies who make a follower’s life miserable, take away their joy and sometimes even make them give up. They can have the following faces:
- Other godsBecause what you live for is your God. During UEFA EURO 24, I once had a conversation about whether it is right for a church to organise a public viewing. I am convinced that we should enjoy football throughout, but it must not become the top priority. What do you live for? What determines your daily routine, your mood, your thinking? Football – like other things – has the potential to become our god.
- Addictive behaviourPaul says: «I’m allowed to do anything. But not everything is good. Everything is allowed to me, but I don’t want to be controlled by anything» (1 Corinthians 6:12 NLB). There are so many good things that want to dominate us: food, wine, film series, social media, etc.
- Burdens from ancestorsIn some family histories, there are things that repeat themselves: marital problems, addictive behaviour, irascibility, entering into unhealthy relationships, financial problems, etc.
- ReconciliationsSometimes people simply cannot get over the fact that they have been wronged. They cannot forgive and so there is no reconciliation. What remains is bitterness and a very limited life.
- Experienced injusticeThere are people who have suffered terrible things such as physical, emotional or even ritual abuse. Such traumas spoil life in the worst possible way.
- Specifications are sentences that we have learnt from past injuries: I have to be better than the others. I can’t do that. It’s too dangerous to show your feelings. We can’t afford to do that.
Such things allow the evil powers and forces of the invisible world exert a destructive influence on a life. Hildegard von Bingen (1098–1179): «The art of becoming human consists of transforming wounds into pearls.» This happens through victories in many battles against our «Amalekites». The last of them must be wiped out.
Our fight
The strategy that Moses chooses in the battle against the Amalekites is a model for a follower of Jesus. He fought on two levels at the same time:
«Moses told Joshua: «Choose men and fight against the army of Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the hill there with the staff of God in my hand». Joshua did as Moses had told him. He led his men into battle against the Amalekites. In the meantime, Moses, Aaron and Hur climbed the hill. As long as Moses held up his arm, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he lowered his arm, the Amalekites gained the upper hand» (Exodus 17:9–11 NLB).
The war strategy is: pray and fight. Both are needed – at the same time. Prayer and action are inseparable. Martin Luther was right when he said: «You have to pray as if all work is useless and work as if all prayer is useless.» There are successors with a more technocratic and others with a more spiritualistic mindset. Technocratic followers tend to do everything in their own strength. When all else fails, they realise that they haven’t prayed at all. Christians with a spiritualistic streak search for the right prayer tactics and don’t realise that steps are required.
How to pray? Moses, Aaron and Hur prayed on the top of a hill. In the Bible, mountains are places of God’s presence. Away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, in silence and solitude, people encountered the heavenly Father. A victorious discipleship requires the regular seeking of God in silence.
How to act? If you encounter an Amalekite, start praying and take practical measures at the same time. In accompanying pastoral care, this is called behavioural therapy. If you are confronted by the enemy of pornography, for example, in addition to prayer, it is important to build up a system that helps us to remain abstinent. In this case, it is probably an accountability relationship and substitute behaviour in the face of temptation. If there is unforgiveness in your life, begin to pray and ask God what specific steps you can take. Prayer alone is not enough in many cases. It is about planning and implementing concrete steps.
«When Moses» arms became heavy, Aaron and Hur looked for a stone for him to sit on. Then they supported his arms – one on the left and the other on the right. In this way, his arms stayed up until the sun went down. Joshua was therefore able to defeat the army of Amalek» (Exodus 17:12–13 NLB).
This scene teaches us the importance of community. In difficult times, we need each other. It is important that we are there for each other, supporting and encouraging each other. None of us is strong enough on our own to overcome all of life’s challenges. But together we can persevere and achieve victories that would be impossible for us alone. A follower finds such a community in his small group or through a pastoral counsellor. Nota bene, the problem area here is on the prayer side and not the practical steps. That is probably significant.
Fredy Staub once said: «I do PUSH: Pray until something happens.» Some «Amalekites» are tough and it takes patience and steadfastness to defeat them. Here in the desert, the fight lasted until sunset. In situations like this, it’s good when other people help you hold your arms up.
Our banner
«Moses built an altar and called it «The LORD is my banner» (Yahweh Nissi)» (Exodus 17:15 NLB).
After the victory against the Amalekites, Moses expresses his gratitude to God. He knows who he has to thank for the victory and prays to his God with the name Yahweh Nissithe LORD is my banner.
A banner is a flag attached to a pole. In the past, each youth group had its own banner, which was planted next to its tents. All the leaders and children identified with this. The main task of the night watch at Pentecost camps was to guard this banner and protect it from enemies. As long as the banner stood by the tents, all was well with the world. It was considered a disaster and a defeat if the banner was stolen during a night raid. They won and lost under this banner. As a child, I felt it was an honour to stand under the banner of the Romanshorn boys» choir. Experience has shown that the chances of success were quite high. A banner shows the affiliation, identity, loyalty and authority of the people who gather under it.
What an honour it is to stand under the Lord, our banner! We can take this image with us into the two-pronged battles of our everyday lives (prayer and action). It helps a follower to be aware of his identity in Christ. Paul describes this as follows: «This shows that you are no longer a slave, but a son. But if you are a son, you are also an heir; God himself has destined you for this.» (Galatians 4:7 New Testament). As a son or daughter of God, we are in a position to defeat our «Amalekites» under the banner of God. By claiming the LORD as his banner, Moses said to the people of Israel: «Yahweh is our identity.» And we owe our lives to Him.
Is it really true that a follower of Jesus can always win? Yes, absolutely. However, it does not mean that life always feels like victory, but that you can remain victorious in adversity, suffering, illness and even death. As long as we walk under the banner of the Lord, we will win. If we – like Saul – stop eradicating the «Amalekites» in our lives, they will catch up with us and massacre us. They lure us under a foreign banner that promises much but delivers little.
Joshua was a talented military general. He was tasked with leading the Israelites in battle. How fitting that Joshua’s name is Yeshua in Hebrew, which means: «Yahweh is salvation». About fourteen centuries later, a little boy was born in this part of the world. The name of the child? Joshua – Yeshua – or translated into Greek, Jesus. The parallelism is no coincidence. Just as Joshua led the people of Israel from a restless existence to a place of peace and abundance, Jesus leads His followers victoriously through the challenges of life.
Possible questions for the small group
Read the Bible text: Genesis 17:8–16
- What kind of «Amalekites» are hostile to you in your succession?
- Which two-pronged strategy did the Israelites use to achieve victory?
- Are you fighting your enemies with a more spiritualistic or more technocratic mindset? What is the place of prayer? Where are you taking concrete steps?
- What kind of people are you standing with so that your arms don’t sink?
- What does the name mean Yahweh Nissi for you personally? How does it show that you are fighting under this banner?
