The Power of Prevailing Prayer

By William J. McRae [1]

An Exposition of Exodus 17:8-13

Introduction

The first leg of Israel’s journey from Egypt to Canaan brought them to Mt. Sinai. The route to the mount of God was a pathway of problems — five to be exact. Three were past:

1. The Bitter Waters of Marah (Ex. 15:22–27)
2. The Shortage of Food (Ex. 16)
3. The Lack of Water (Ex. 17:1–7)

Those first three episodes in their pilgrimage dealt with the basic needs of Israel — provision of food and drink in the desert. Now the fourth incident deals with the last fundamental necessity of survival. It is deliverance from their enemies.

Then Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought against Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set. So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” Moses built an altar and named it The Lord is My Banner; and he said, “The Lord has sworn; the Lord will have war against Amalek from generation to generation” (Ex. 17:8–16). [2]

The Source of the Problem (17:8)

Then Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim.

The Amalekites were a vicious fighting tribe of nomads who roamed the deserts of northern Sinai. They were the descendants of Amalek, the son of Edom, the son of Esau (Gen. 36:12).

The reason for Amalek’s challenge of Israel at this particular spot is not hard to find. Israel was encamped at Rephidim, which is very close to the fertile oasis of Wadi Feiran, the best land in the peninsula. The grazing in this peninsula would not support both Israel and Amalek at the same time. It was only a matter of time until Amalek attacked Israel. They were simply attempting to protect their own territory, as well as to gain control of this rich fertile oasis area which was occupied by the Israelites.

Apparently they were few in number. This accounts for their typical method of attack. According to Deuteronomy 25:18, they hung around Israel’s rear and flank and systematically cut off the stragglers.

There is no telling how long Israel tolerated these wild nomads nipping at their heels and hacking at their sides. Finally the situation became intolerable.

The Solution to the Problem (17:9-13)

So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.”

To meet the crisis, Moses called for Joshua and commanded him: “Choose men for us, and go out, fight against Amalek” (v. 9).

The Role of Joshua

This is the first appearance of Joshua in the unfolding drama of Israel’s redemption. Born in the brick fields of Egypt, he is now about forty-five years of age. His name is actually Hoshea — “savior.” It will be later changed to Jehoshua or Joshua — “Yahweh is Savior” (Num. 13:16).

With this incident Joshua moves into the second stage of his life. He has been a trusted servant of Moses through the early stages of the wilderness experience. Now he emerges as a competent soldier, leading the army of Israel against Amalek. Shortly he will prove to be a faithful spy (Num. 13:8), returning from Canaan with Caleb to urge Israel to trust God to give them the land. Finally, as a military statesman, he will succeed Moses and lead the Israelites across Jordan into Canaan (Joshua 1–4).

The character of this man who will make such a mark for God in his life is evident in this introductory scene. We are immediately impressed with the faith and obedience of Joshua.

Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought against Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill (17:10).

“Without question or objection he organized the relatively untrained and unseasoned soldiers of Israel and fought the Amalekites.” [3] These qualities of character repeatedly surface throughout the story of Joshua’s life.

• He “wholly followed the Lord” (Num. 32:12, 28).
• He “fell before the Captain of the Host” (Josh. 5:14–15).
• He “built an altar unto the Lord” (Josh. 8:30).
• He “left nothing undone of all the Lord commanded him” (Josh. 11:15).
• He exercised faith at Jericho (Heb. 11:30).
• He and his house chose to “serve the Lord” (Josh. 24:15).

How I love this man Joshua. What a man of God he was. He was a man of implicit faith and instant obedience.

But it was not the military genius of Joshua nor the fighting skills of the Israelites that brought the victory. How then did the victory come?

The Role of Moses

As Joshua led his army out to battle, Moses led Aaron and Hur to the top of the hill overlooking the battlefield. In his hand was the “staff of God.”

So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set. So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword (17:11–13).

What an incredible scene! What was it all about?

1. Some suggest the lifting up of the hands was here, as usual, a military signal for the beginning of a battle or for an advance in battle. Presumably, the lowering of his hand would then be a signal for retreat. As Moses raised his hands, they advanced. As he lowered his hands, they retreated. While the hands were supported and held up until sunset, Israel pressed their advance and overcame the enemy.

This explanation is surely unacceptable. It is simply a natural explanation in a context which demands a supernatural explanation. Such a natural explanation is inconsistent with the preceding context, where the three previous problems had been solved supernaturally. It is inconsistent with the following context when, as a memorial, Moses built an altar and called it “Jehovah-Nissi,” which literally means “The Lord is my banner.” This is a clear reference to the supernatural work of God in bringing victory over the Amalekites. Further, it is inconsistent with the facts. The Israelites were totally untrained and unorganized for battle. They were fighting against a vicious people, well-trained in the arts of warfare.

2. If they were not a military signal for attack and advance, what then did the uplifted hands signify? Frequently, in the culture of the ancient Near East, the uplifted hand was a sign of an oath (Gen. 14:22). It is therefore suggested that Moses’ uplifted hands put Amalek under the sacred “ban” or “curse” that meant utter destruction.

3. However, the most common explanation may well be the most correct one. The lifting up of the hands was the standard posture for prayer in Bible times.

So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name (Psa. 63:4). 

Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You for help, When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary (Psa. 28:2). 

Lift up your hands to the sanctuary; And bless the Lord (Psa. 134:2). 

May my prayer be counted as incense before You; The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering (Psa. 141:2). 

“Arise, cry aloud in the night, At the beginning of the night watches; Pour out your heart like water, Before the presence of the Lord; Lift up your hands to Him, For the life of your little ones; Who are faint because of hunger, At the head of every street” (Lam. 2:19). 

Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension (1 Tim. 2:8). 

Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble (Heb. 12:12).

This was not the only position for prayer. Sometimes they stood with head bowed. Other times they fell prostrate on the ground, face down. On still other occasions they looked heavenward, or knelt before God, or dressed in sackcloth and ashes. The outward posture was always significant. It not only was calculated to reflect the inward state of the soul, but also it was designed to influence or affect the state of the soul. Don’t you find a great difference between praying while slouched in a chair or laying in bed and praying while on your knees or with head bowed or laying out prostrate before Him?

It should be clear, then, that Moses here was not a type of Christ, our High Priest, who is interceding for us in heaven. This cannot be. Moses was accompanied and assisted by Aaron and Hur. Furthermore, his hands grew heavy and his prayers ceased for a time! Moses is hardly a figure of our great High Priest. What, then, is the lesson?

The Principle and Its Applications

It is simply this: a major factor contributing to victory in our spiritual warfare is prevailing prayer! As Moses prevailed in prayer with uplifted hands, the tide of battle turned in Israel’s favor and Amalek eventually was defeated and fled.

Our spiritual warfare is fought on three fronts. In each case, prevailing prayer is a critical factor in victory.

Our Conflict Against Satanic Forces

The apostle Paul writes:

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph. 6:12).

Consider for a moment Satan’s methods.

• He hinders, 1 Thes. 2:18 He blinds, 2 Cor. 4:4
• He deceives, 2 Cor. 11:3 He corrupts, Matt. 13:38, 39
• He buffets, 2 Cor. 12:7 He tempts, 1 Cor. 7:5

How shall we combat him? Certainly not by our own wits or in our own strength. A major portion is prevailing prayer! The apostle concludes his discourse on the Christian’s armor that enables him to resist the evil one with these words:

With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints (Eph. 6:18).

Our Lord set the example for us in Gethsemane. There He surely engaged in Satanic combat and overcame by prevailing prayer.

In a few short hours Satan would sift Peter. The Lord had said, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.” But Peter had slept. Satan sifted and the disciple fell. With a curse he denied his Lord (Luke 22:31ff).

It is only too clear: A major factor in contributing to victory in our spiritual warfare is prevailing prayer.

Our Conflict with the World System

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever (1 John 2:15–17).

Do not marvel, brethren, if the world hates you (1 John 3:13).

How shall we combat the insidious assault of the world system, with its constant temptation to indulge self, to increase possessions, and to impress others? How shall we resist peer group pressure? How shall we stand against the mockery, belittling, and rejection? Surely not by our own wits or strength. Once again, prevailing prayer is a major factor.

Often the world system works like a cooling system. John Wesley once said: “Whatever cools my affection toward Christ is the world.” Prayer is the insulation that protects the soul from being chilled to death.

Just as often, the world system works as a heating system, bringing persecution and opposition. Once again, prevailing prayer is the insulator.

Martin Luther on the night preceding his appearance before the Diet of Worms prayed: “Do thou, my God, do Thou, God, stand by me against all the world’s wisdom and reason. O do it! Thou must do it. Stand by me, Thou True, Eternal God!”

Luther’s great victory on the next day must be traced, in part, to the prevailing prayer of the evening before.

Our Conflict with the Sin Nature

For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please (Gal. 5:17).

But I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members (Rom. 7:23).

Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified (1 Cor. 9:26–27).

And how shall we combat so violent and vicious a foe? We are no match for it. Our history of defeat and failure bears sufficient testimony to this. How, then, shall we break loose from the mastery of the sin nature and put to death the deeds of the flesh? Once again, one major factor is prevailing prayer.

Augustine’s anguished prayer was: “Lord, save me from that evil man — myself.”

As our hands are lifted heavenward in prayer, expressing our dependence upon Him and claiming by faith our victory from Him, the living Lord, by His Spirit, mortifies the deeds of the flesh and delivers the believer from the slavery of sin.

A cute little story is told of a young girl who once was overheard praying: “God, please take care of yourself, because if anything happened to you, we would be in awful shape!” How true.

There is no doubt about it — a major factor contributing to victory in our spiritual warfare is prevailing prayer! From our story there remain three simple lessons about prayer that we dare not neglect.

1. In his prayer, Moses was supported by others. The friends I value most in my life are those who support me in prayer. There is nothing greater that a person can do for me than to stand with me in the midst of my combat and support me in prayer. How I love such persons. What an invaluable service they render. Such service is unseen by the masses, but it is not unnoticed by God. Hur is mentioned only once in all of Scripture. It was for his secret service of support as Moses prayed!
2. While he prayed, Joshua and Israel fought on the battlefield. Happy are those who mingle prayer and toil till God responds to the former and rewards the latter. General Booth advised, “Work as if everything depended upon work, and pray as if everything depended upon prayer.” An eight-year-old sat on top of a load of wood on a wagon. The wagon was drawn by two horses which ran swiftly down a steep hill. After the frightening ordeal, the child’s mother asked him, “Well, my boy, what did you do?” The boy said, “I prayed to God and hung on like a beaver.”
3. As he prayed, Moses simply claimed by faith the promises of God. The Lord has promised, “I will bring you to the land…and I will give it to you for a possession” (Ex. 6:8). Here in prayer Moses claimed that promise. It was an exercise of faith. This is just what prayer often is in a believer’s life — claiming by faith the promises of God.

Conclusion

• Oh, how we need to pray!
• Our Lord said men “ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1).
• Life is ever so fragile — handle it with prayer.

Adoniram Judson, perhaps the greatest missionary ever sent out from American shores, was emphatic in his insistence upon prayer. He said, “Be resolute in prayer. Make any sacrifice to maintain it. Consider that time is short and that business and company must not be allowed to rob thee of thy God.” Here was a man who impressed a mighty empire for God.

How we need to pray. May God enable us to be men and women who know what it is to prevail in prayer.

Notes

1. Emmaus alumnus Bill McRae, well-known Bible expositor, author, and educator, presently serves at Tyndale College and Seminary (Ontario) as President Emeritus and Minister at Large. This is the thirteenth in a series of expositions on the book of Exodus.
2. All quotations of Scripture are from the 1995 revision of the NASB.
3. John J. Davis, Moses and the Gods of Egypt, 2d ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1986), 196.