«Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God»
(Deuteronomy 25:17,18).
“CONTEMPTIBLE, COWARDLY, AND INSIDIOUS.» That’s how Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown describe the Amalekites’ attack against Israel’s unsuspecting rearguard, on their way out of Egypt.
The treacherous attack occurred without any provocation on Israel’s part, and wreaked havoc on the weakest members of the people who had lagged behind. Why did they do something so vile? According to Ellen G. White, the Amalekites «had taken oath by their gods that they would destroy the Hebrews, so that not one should escape, and they boasted that Israel’s God would be powerless to resist them.»— Patriarchs and Prophets, ch. 26, p. 300.
According to the Scriptures, as soon as the surprise attack occurred, Moses gave Joshua precise orders to fend off the Amalekites, while he and Aaron interceded for the people. In the end, «Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword» (Exodus 17:13).
But things didn’t end there. The wicked action of the Amalekites would not only be recorded, but in its time it would be punished: «Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven’ » (Exodus 17:14).
Why the harsh sentence for Amalek? Because the brutal attack, in addition to directly challenging the power of God, was perpetrated without any compassion upon the most helpless of the people; and God couldn’t ignore that: «The care of God,» says Ellen G. White, «is over the weakest of His children. No act of cruelty or oppression toward them is unmarked by Heaven»— Patriarchs and Prophets, ch. 26, p. 300.
The lesson is clear: whomever harms God’s children, especially the weakest, touches «the apple of His eye» (Zechariah 2:8). And although «the Lord is slow to get angry . . . he never lets the guilty go unpunished» (Nahum 1:3, NLT).
May God keep us from intentionally causing harm to one of His children; but woe unto those who harm us, because we too are children of the Most High!
«Over all who love and fear Him, His hand extends as a shield; let men beware that they smite not that hand; for it wields the sword of justice.»—Patriarchs and Prophets, ch. 26, p. 300.
Help me, Dear God, to always be kind to Your children. And also help me to remember that whomever wants to hurt me will be touching «the apple of Your eye.»
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Taken from: Devotional Readings for Adults 2022
“GREAT IS OUR GOD!”
From: FERNANDO ZABALA
Colaboradores: Xiomara Perdomo & Angelica Cuate
