Exodus 17:8-16
With their hunger satisfied and their thirst quenched, here are the people prepared by the LORD for a new experience, that of a fight with Amalek. It is after they have been strengthened "in the Lord and the power of his might" that believers are able to face up to their enemies (Ephesians 6:10-13). At the Red Sea, the LORD fought for His own and they were to "hold their peace" (Exodus 14:14). The cross was the Lord’s fight alone. We could do nothing for our salvation. But after conversion, at once the struggles commenced (Galatians 5:17). Like a mighty army, all our old faults came back to harass us, to war against us (1 Peter 2:11). Can we no longer count on the Lord for everything? Indeed we can! On the cross He fought for us, He took our place: now He fights with us – He is the true Joshua. Yet it is up on the mountain that the victory is decided. Christ, in the character of the true Moses and the true Aaron, is henceforth in Heaven, interceding for His own. And His hands are never weary (Romans 8:34; ; Romans 8:37; Hebrews 7:25). The result of the battle does not depend on the strength of the combatants, but on their faith and the prayers of the Lord Jesus.
In this story, Joshua teaches us how to fight and Moses teaches us how to pray. (Psalms 144:1-2).