The Power of Lifting Our Hands
Exodus 17:8-16
Exodus 17:8-16 (NIV)
The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands." So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up — one on one side, one on the other — so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven." Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner. He said, "For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation."
Exodus 17:8 (NIV)
The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.
Deuteronomy 25:17-19 (NIV)
“Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and cut off all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God. When the LORD your God gives you rest from all the enemies around you in the land he is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!”
Exodus 17:9 (NIV)
Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands."
Exodus 8:23-24, 28-29 (NIV)
I will make a distinction between my people and your people. This miraculous sign will occur tomorrow.'" And the LORD did this. Dense swarms of flies poured into Pharaoh's palace and into the houses of his officials, and throughout Egypt the land was ruined by the flies. Pharaoh said, "I will let you go to offer sacrifices to the LORD your God in the desert, but you must not go very far. Now pray for me." Moses answered, "As soon as I leave you, I will pray to the LORD , and tomorrow the flies will leave Pharaoh and his officials and his people.
Exodus 9:5 (NIV)
The LORD set a time and said, "Tomorrow the LORD will do this in the land.
Exodus 9:18 (NIV)
Therefore, at this time tomorrow I will send the worst hailstorm that has ever fallen on Egypt,
Exodus 10:4 (NIV)
If you refuse to let them go, I will bring locusts into your country tomorrow. NIV
Numbers 11:18 (NIV)
"Tell the people: 'Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat. The LORD heard you when you wailed, "If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!" Now the LORD will give you meat, and you will eat it
Joshua 3:5 (NIV)
Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you."
1. Raised hands are part of biblical prayer
Exodus 9:29 (NIV) (Ex 9:22, 20:12, 14:16)
Moses replied, "When I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands in prayer to the LORD. The thunder will stop and there will be no more hail, so you may know that the earth is the LORD'S.
1 Kings 8:22-23 (NIV)
Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven and said: "O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below...
1 Kings 8:54 (NIV)
When Solomon had finished all these prayers and supplications to the LORD, he rose from before the altar of the LORD, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven.
Ezra 9:5-6a (NLT)
At the time of the sacrifice, I stood up from where I had sat in mourning with my clothes torn. I fell to my knees and lifted my hands to the LORD my God. I prayed...
Nehemiah 8:6 (NIV)
Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
Psalm 28:2 (NIV)
Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.
Psalm 63:4 (NIV)
I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.
Psalm 134:1-2 (NIV)
Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who minister by night in the house of the LORD. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD.
Lamentations 3:41-42 (NIV)
Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven, and say: "We have sinned and rebelled...
1 Timothy 2:8 (NIV)
I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer,
2. Raised hands bring victory in spiritual battles
Exodus 17:10-11 (NIV)
So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV)
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Exodus 17:12-13 (NIV)
When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up — one on one side, one on the other — so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.
Exodus 17:13 (NIV)
So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.
3. Raised hands remind us that God is fighting for us
Exodus 17:14 (NIV)
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven."
Exodus 17:15 (NIV)
Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner.
Exodus 17:16 (NIV)
He said, "For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation."
