Tag: utter destruction

52.e. Wilderness – 16.k. “But its end is utter destruction.”

 

 

Deu 25:17-19  “Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you came out of Egypt,  how he attacked you on the way when you were faint and weary, and cut off your tail, those who were lagging behind you, and he did not fear God. Therefore when the LORD your God has given you rest from all your enemies around you, in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven; you shall not forget.

Exodus 17:14.   Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”

Numbers 24:20   Then he looked on Amalek and took up his discourse and said, “Amalek was the first among the nations, but its end is utter destruction.”

 Proverbs 16:6    By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.

Because of God’s strong command to battle against Amalek until they were completely conquered, many see the Amalekites as a picture of our flesh – which constantly battles against the spirit and must be struggled against until completely conquered. (Guzik)

Let every persecutor and injurer of God’s people take warning from the case of the Amalekites. The longer it is before judgement comes, the more dreadful will it be at last. Amalek may remind us of the foes of our souls. May we be enabled to slay all our lusts, all the corruptions both within and without, all the powers of darkness and of the world, which oppose our way to the blessed Saviour. (Henry)

Remember what Amalek did—This cold-blooded and dastardly atrocity is not narrated in the previous history (Ex 17:14). It was an unprovoked outrage on the laws of nature and humanity, as well as a daring defiance of that God who had so signally shown His favor towards Israel. (Brown)

The Amalekites, how they came out against them, and fought with them at Rephidim, Exodus 17:8, by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt; which was an aggravation of their cruel and inhuman action, that they not only came out against them unprovoked, were the aggressors, and fell upon them as they were travelling on the road, but when they were just come out of Egypt, where they had been in hard bondage, and their spirits broken, and they not used to war; and so took them at all these disadvantages, a people that had not in the least injured them. (Gill)

But whilst the Israelites were to make love the guiding principle of their conduct in their dealings with a neighbour, and even with strangers and foes, this love was not to degenerate into weakness or indifference towards open ungodliness. To impress this truth upon the people, Moses concludes the discourse on the law by reminding them of the crafty enmity manifested towards them by Amalek on their march out of Egypt, and with the command to root out the Amalekites (cf. Exodus 17:9-16). This heathen nation had come against Israel on its journey, viz., at Rephidim in Horeb, and had attacked its rear. (Keil)

I do not understand at all the hate that is prominent in the US for Israel. I do not know what is driving this and how people support it. I can only imagine that Satan is behind this and leading people to thoughts that are not God-honoring. When you look at what Hamas did on Oct 7, 2023, and attacked the people of Israel it is hard not to think of them as “Amalekites”. Surely, the unprovoked attack on the perimeter of the Israeli people is similar. Surely, attacking God’s chosen people will result in punishment. Israel may or may not be the hand of God in this punishment, but certainly, His punishment is coming. How it comes, when it comes, and to what extent it comes is in His hands according to His purposes.

All who go against God’s chosen will one day bow before Jesus and know their sin in full. There is time to repent of it now, but there will not be time after death.

Hidden for Ages

“ A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

“ the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Malachi 4:5  “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”

Matthew 11:13  For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John,  and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.

Matthew 17:10  And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?”  He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things.  But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.”  Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

Luke 1:17    and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

Luke 7:26  What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.  This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’  I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

1 Peter 1:10  Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully,  inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.  It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

“The mystery hidden from ages now revealed.”  God chose to reveal this mystery to us.  He chose to make known that which had previously been vague.  I wonder if we, on the knowing side of the mystery, fully understand the magnitude of this great gift.  Do we treat it as though it is something special or just a bit more information.  It would appear as though we have been brought out from designed ignorance into God given wisdom in things so wonderful and blessed that our voices should ring with praise and thanksgiving to God.  But reality is we don’t truly understand the ignorance others lived in so this comparison can only be a mental exercise.  We live in a time where there is so much information at our finger tips.  World troubles are seconds away from us knowing they happened.  World accomplishments the same.  It would appear we are living in a time of testing our resolve to remain true to God even though all of this bombardment of information is happening.  We have been given access to God through His son.  We have been given His word to better understand Him and what it means to humbly serve, honor, follow and obey Him.  Do not let the speed and influx of this world’s information take one second away from spending time with God and His word.  Do not underestimate satan’s attempt at deceiving us into believing we are too busy or this other stuff is more important.  We leave this world with nothing and enter into eternity with true hope, faith, and assurance of salvation through Christ and promise of life with God.  Or, we spend this life totally cold or lukewarm to living for, trusting in, relying on, or clinging to Him ending in a life lived for self and no true hope.  The only thing that awaits is utter torment for eternity.