Snipping At Our Heels

There are many fascinating teaching points taking place in the life of Israel when she was coming out of the land of Egypt. One in particular that ought to be heeded by all believers is the event found in Exodus 17:8-16 when Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim (Remember that at Rephidim Israel had no water and quarreled with Moses and tested the Lord God). On the heels of that great and wonderful miraculous provision of water, an enemy attacks. Amalek came and fought Israel at Rephidim. You remember this; it was when Moses went up on the hill and sat on the rock so Aaron and Hur could hold his hands up. The Bible says "So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword" (Exodus 17:13).

OK, you got the picture?


Sometimes the believer gets the privilege of a different perspective enableing us to grapple with a great spiritual truth. If you take a look at Deuteronomy 25:17-19 Moses actually gives us a view from years of reflection. Here is how Moses remembered it.

"Remember what Amalek did to you along the way when you came out from Egypt, 18 how he met you along the way and attacked among you all the stragglers at your rear when you were faint and weary; and he did not fear God. 19 "Therefore it shall come about when the Lord your God has given you rest from all your surrounding enemies, in the land which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven; you must not forget."



Get this picture firmly placed in your mind and heart. Israel has had this marvelous experience where God provides by causing water to gush forth out of a rock so all Israel could have more water to drink than they needed. They are rejoicing in His blessing when all the sudden they are under attack from one of the kings of the land. How does he attack, and whom does he attack? Is it a frontal attack? Does he meet army against army? Does he attempt to directly destroy Israel?


No!

He hides in the bushes and when he finds a straggler who is faint and weary, he goes after that one and picks him/her off one-by-one. Webster's Dictionary defines to straggle this way: to wander from the direct course or way, to stray; to trail off from others of its kind.


So what's the principle here? The people of God have a great spiritual victory. God has moved in their midst and miraculously provided for their needs and immediately they find themselves under attack. How does the enemy come? Does he come through frontal attack? No! He comes by attacking from the weeds and bushes. He intentionally waits for the struggler and straggler who is faint and weary. Like an enemy of one's soul hiding in the darkness awaiting one of God's children to wander off from the group. Then he attacks with vengeance.


The principle here: Satan, the enemy of our soul, often waits until the people of God experiences a sweet victory in our Lord Jesus. Then he looks for those wandering away from the group. He searches for those with the tendency of straying, then he attacks.


The individual who doesn't walk circumspectly through this wilderness experience will often find himself to be the victim of spiritual or emotional terrorism. He/She finds herself/himself having experienced the liberating victory of the Lord, and before he/she knows it, they find themselves having become critical and cynical. Sometimes they even become disillusioned with the direction of the body and they leave all together.


While we are enjoying the blessing of the Lord, we must keep on the lookout in life's shadows. We'll often discover the enemy of our soul ready and waiting to just snip at our heels. Notice, he's not afraid of God! Had it on my heart!
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