Focus: Satan Is A Loser!

Text: Ex.17:14-16

"And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi: For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation."

Amalek is the grandson of Esau, and of all Esau's children and grandchildren, Amalek was the son who took after Esau in his hatred for Israel. Gen.27:41 says that "Esau hated Jacob…and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob." Obadiah says to Esau, "For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever" (1:10). 

The Edomites, descendants of Esau adamantly and vehemently refused to grant Israel passage through their land (Num.20:14-21). Amalek, following in the steps of his grandfather, perfectly hated Israel. Israel survived Egypt and the Red Sea, but in the desert Amalek observed as Moses turned the bitter waters of Marah into a sweet water through a tree - the healing tree of Calvary, and then he got jealous and envious, came from behind, and attacked Israel without mercy. Moses says, "Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt; How he met thee by the way, and smote the HINDMOST of thee, even all that were FEEBLE behind thee, when thou wast FAINT and WEARY; and HE FEARED NOT GOD" (Dt.25:17-18). Amalek was cruel, callous and wicked. He had no fear of God in his eyes. He suffered from the arrogance of ignorance. He was full of hate for Israel and blind enough to see that he was treading on dangerous ground. 

No one ever wins who fights God and His people.

Moses asked Joshua to lead a battle against Amalek, and the outcome was that "Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword" (Ex.17:13). And then God told Moses to make an altar and raise a banner on it with the name: Jehovah-Nissi, which signifies, 'YHVH our banner of victory. God says, "Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation." The margin says, "Because the hand of Amalek is against the throne of the Lord." A literal translation of the Hebrew says, "For a hand is upon the banner of Yah: There will be war for the LORD against Amalek for all generations." Amalek was not afraid to lift his hand against the throne of the Lord. He did not know that touching Israel was tantamount to fighting against God.

In the New Testament we get a similar picture between Saul of Tarsus and the church of Jesus Christ. We read, "And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks" (Act.9:4-5). Saul never knew that any attack against the church was a direct affront to Christ. Touching the church was indeed touching Christ. It is written, "He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye" (Zech.2:8). Also, "Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm" (Ps.105:15). And again, "The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me…" (Ps.138:8). 

God is one with His people. The divine covenant guarantees our protection. With God on our side no one can prevail against us.

Our God is known as the man of war. Jesus Christ says to us, "And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you" (Lk.10:18-19). 

As believers in Christ we have the authority of the Word and of the Name of God, and the power of the Blood of Christ and of the Spirit of God. Satan is a total loser.

On the cross Jesus Christ "spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it" (Col.2:15). The head of the serpent is permanently and eternally smashed and crushed. He can never succeed in our lives. The Lion of Judah is in our lives.

Remember that with the edge of the sword Joshua discomfited Amalek. We, too, have a sword, and it is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. It is our offensive weapon. In the words of Isaiah, "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn…" (Isa.54:17).

Resist the devil, and he will run from you. You are the winner and Satan is the loser! Jesus Christ the greater one lives in us. Stand in your place and defend your territory!

In our own generation Amalek faces the wrath of our God. God will delete Amalek from your life and space. He has vowed to root Amalek out of our life and space. So take charge! Amen!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter