Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi: For he said, Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation. Exodus 17:8-16 (KJV)

Let’s take a look at this account of the battle between Israel and Amalek.

The name Israel refers to one who strives with God. This goes back to Genesis 32, when Jacob wrestled with God and prevailed. His name was changed to Israel, which means prince with God or one who has power with God. Amalek is a type of the flesh, an enemy. Israel is a type of the spirit. There is always a struggle in us between flesh and spirit for dominance.

Amalek tried to keep Israel from entering the Promised Land. Flesh will try to keep us from receiving what God has for us. Flesh must be defeated and kept in subjection for us to possess what God has for us. As Amalek was the enemy of Israel, so is the flesh the enemy of the spirit.

We must prevail in prayer to prevail over flesh to gain victory. As Moses’s hands were raised to God, Israel prevailed. As we pray, we enforce the victory that Christ died to give us. As we proclaim the name Jehovah Nissi, we gain victory over our flesh. The flesh won’t defeat us. Jesus is our Jehovah Nissi,

For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. Galatians 5:17 (New International Version, NIV)

For he said, Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation. Exodus 17:16 (KJV)

This tells us that there is a war between our flesh and the Spirit of God, which dwells in our spirits. As we pray and proclaim the Lord’s name, we win. As we pray with others standing along side us, they help us win the battle. If we yield to the flesh, we lose. If we yield to the spirit, we win.

Pray through until the breakthrough, and let the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Jehovah Nissi, be our victory banner. The flesh will fail, but God’s name always prevails. Pray and proclaim the Name. The Lord will bring the change from defeat to victory.

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. I Corinthians 15:57-58 (KJV)