 |  |
sanctified, and made a covenant people. Readers are already acquainted with the
difference that exists between redemption and atonement. Before Israel could meet either
King Og of Bashan or King Sihon of Heshbon, even on this side of Jordan, they needed
the instruction and the types of acceptance foreshadowed in the tabernacle. This order is
observed in Ephesians.
1. Redemption (Eph. 1: 7).
2. Atonement; "made nigh"; "access" (Eph. 2:).
3. The conflict (Eph. 6:).
To invert this order, or to omit one section, is to court dismal failure. Moreover,
Joshua, who led the people on to victory, was a man of the Word (Josh. 1: 8). He knew
the value of the "sword of the Spirit", and of that weapon that was mighty through God to
the pulling down of the strongholds of Satan, as at Jericho. Let us now notice the foes of
Israel's wilderness period.
Amalek.--Some think that it is an error to suppose that the Amalekites are
descendants of Esau who had a grandson of that name (Gen. 36: 10-16), for the
country of the Amalekites is mentioned together with Canaanite nations, as that of the
Rephaims and Amorites in Gen. 14: 7, long before the birth of Esau, the grandfather of
Amalek. Be this as it may, Amalek's attack is separated from the rest. So far as Israel
were concerned Amalek's attack was a treacherous act:--
"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" (Deut. 25: 18).
His opportunity seems to have been provided by the murmuring and rebellious spirit
of the people. Conquest no longer lay in "standing still and seeing the salvation of the
Lord", but by active and prayerful co-operation. "Go fight" were the words of Joshua;
"Go pray" the words to Moses. The opportunity afforded by murmuring and the power
of prayer will not be lightly passed over by those to whom Eph. 6: comes as personal
truth.
The essential character of Amalek's opposition, however, is found in the margin of
Exod. 17: 16, "Because the hand of Amalek is against the throne of the Lord". The
"world-holders of this darkness" oppose the purpose of the ages, and that purpose
involves the very throne of the Lord. The enthroned Christ and all His people are the
great centre of Satanic attack. This is developed in full in the Book of the Revelation.
Saul, type of Antichrist as he was, the people's choice, the persecutor of the
Lord's anointed (David) forfeits his throne through failure to blot out Amalek
(I Sam. 28: 18). Haman the Agagite almost accomplished the destruction of Israel
(Esther 3:). Balaam, however, foretold that Amalek, the first of the nations, should
nevertheless end in destruction (Numb. 24: 20).
Sihon.--Israel sought no quarrel with Sihon. A request was sent asking Sihon to
allow Israel "to pass through", their objective being the territory of Canaan but not of