A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns

By way of typical application, Amalek is representative of the flesh or old nature which is
in constant conflict with the promptings of the Holy Spirit in the Christian life. Just as Amalek is
throughout Scripture pictured as seeking to hinder the forward movement and prosperity of
Israel, so “the carnal mind is enmity against God” (Rom. 8:7). When Amalek attacked Israel, the
attack was from the rear hitting the weakest side of the nation (cf. Deut. 25:17-18). Similarly, the
flesh seems to attack in our spiritual lives at our weakest moments. Because of the nature of
Amalek, God warned there would be constant battle between Israel and Amalek from generation
to generation (Ex. 17:16). Later, King Saul was commissioned “to utterly destroy” Amalek (1
Sam. 15:1-3). By way of compromise, Saul allowed Agag, the king of Amalek to remain alive.
Ironically, it was an Amalekite who later claimed credit for the death of Saul in his last battle (2
Sam. 1:6-10).
It was Moses and Joshua who defeated Amalek in battle and revealed the key to winning
the spiritual battle over the flesh. Though Joshua fought with great skill and energy, it was the
arms of Moses lifted up in prayer that governed the outcome of the battle (Ex. 17:11). The
victory was secured when Aaron and Hur held up the arms of Moses long enough for Joshua to
win the war. Aaron was the priest of Israel. Moses was the prophet in Israel. Hur was the leader
of the tribe of Judah, the royal tribe of Israel. Together in prayer, they are typical of the
intercession of Jesus Christ, our Prophet, Priest, and King. Recognizing the true source of the
military victory at Rephidim, “Moses built an altar and called its name, The Lord Is My Banner”
(v. 15).
THE GIVING OF THE LAW
(Ex. 19:1-24:18)
It took Israel three months to arrive at the first major stop in their journey to Canaan,
Mount Sinai. Sinai would be the scene of great spiritual heights as Israel became the first and
only nation in the history of mankind to hear the audible voice of God. But it would also be the
place of great failure, the place where they would choose to worship the gods of Egypt, despite
having heard the voice of God. And it would be the place where God would again establish one
of His unconditional covenants and establish a new approach in His dealings with mankind in
general and Israel in particular. It was at Mount Sinai that God instituted what theologians have
come to call “the dispensation of Law.”
At Mount Sinai, Israel saw the glory of God on the mountain in the form of a thick fog or
smoke on the mountain. From the midst of the smoke, God spoke to His people in an audible
voice. He reminded the people He was “the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of
Egypt, out of the house of bondage” (Ex. 20:2). On the basis of that introduction, He gave them a
summary of the Law under which He required Israel to live as a redeemed nation. It was never
God’s intention to make the Law the means of salvation, but rather a standard of living for those
who were already redeemed. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus made it clear that the statement
of the Law in the form of the ten words or Ten Commandments as they have come to be known
was more than merely a prohibition against certain isolated acts or practices. The commands
applied also to the less than wholesome attitudes which when developed to full fruition result in
the prohibited acts.