"Then Came Amalek"

     In Exodus 17, Israel stops in Rephidim and God supplies their need of water.  As their bellies were full in this place of rest, the Bible says "Then came Amalek".  The Amalekites had shown up to fight against Israel while they were resting.  You must understand that Amalek is a picture of our "Natural Man", the flesh.  There are two very important lessons we can learn from this story in our Christian life.
     The first thing is that your flesh will attack you for no reason at all.  Israel was resting!  They hadn't crossed any borders, they weren't looking for a fight, but the next thing they knew, the fight had come looking for them.  Amalek wasn't there to drink water and fellowship.  Amlek wasn't there to talk about the weather and the economy.  Amalek was there for one reason only.  To destroy Israel.  Your flesh needs no reason to fight against you but it will.  It seeks to do one thing. SIN!  It seeks it just as a hungry lion seeks prey.  Don't be fooled into thinking that you can feed your flesh without it biting you back.
     Secondly, we learn that the flesh will attack you when you are weak.  Deutoronomy 25 tells us that the Amalekites attacked from behind and attacked "all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary".  We all go through seasons of weariness but, we must keep our gaurd up during those times.  There will be times when you have to work more hours during a week.  There will be new beginnings in your life when you'll have to adapt or rearrange some parts of your life.  It may be a time of weariness simply due to the spiritual battles you've been in.  Those weary times are breeding ground for your flesh to pop it's ugly head up in your life.
     When you are tired your mind will try to convince you of some things that are not true.  Your toungue will say things that go against God and His Word.  Your hands will do things that will often times be regretted in the days and even years to come.  All because you were just tired.
     Learn that Amalek will continually come your way and try to wage war against you.  But, you can rejoice in the fact that one day this battle will come to an end.  In the meantime, look to the Lord.  Moses choose Joshua to fight the battle that day and they won.  Joshua is the Old Testament name for Jesus.  Let Jesus fight your battles if you want to have the victory.