Reading in the book of Deuteronomy I came across this verse. “Remember what the Amalekites did to you on the journey after you left Egypt. They met you along the way and attacked all your stragglers from behind when you were tired and weary. They did not fear God.” [Deuteronomy 25:17-18 HCSB]
After reading that I needed to go back and see what the Amalekites did do to the children of Israel after they left Egypt. The attack is described in Exodus 17. It happened at Rephidim.
Exodus 17 begins with the children of Israel camping at Rephidim and finding no water there. Moses, instructed by God, struck the rock and water flowed to nourish them. [vs 1-7]
But, while at Rephidim, the Amalekites attacked. God told Moses to have Joshua command the battle while Moses stood on the hilltop with his staff in his hand. As long as Moses held up the staff, Israel prevailed in the battle, but when he tired and put his hand down, Amalek prevailed. Finally, Aaron and Hur came along side and helped Moses hold up the staff until Israel won. [vs 8-13]
Apparently, the Amalekites struck when Israel was tired and weary and picked off the stragglers. We all get tired and weary at times. It is not a sin to be tired and weary sometimes.
But as believers, we have been invited by our Savior to come to Him when we are tired and weary. He has promised to give us rest for our souls. “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” [Matthew 11:28]
The key word there is “come.” Like all invitations, it is our responsibility to respond and accept Jesus’ invitation. It is our responsibility to “come.”
If we fail to come when we are tired and weary, we might find ourselves picked off like the stragglers at Rephidim.
