God fought the battle against Amalek; Israel's army was used, but the victory came from God alone.
The battle turned on Moses' uplifted hands, not on Israel's military strength. When Moses' hands were raised, Israel prevailed; when they fell, Amalek prevailed. Moses then built an altar and called it Jehovah-Nissi, declaring that the LORD was Israel's banner. Les Feldick points to Amalek as the first enemy Israel faced after Egypt and teaches that God, not Israel's armies, is the One who wins Israel's battles.
Exodus 17:8-16 — This is the biblical account of the battle with Amalek and the naming of God as Israel's banner after the victory.
Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. Moses told Joshua to choose men and go out to fight, while Moses stood on the top of the hill with the rod of God in his hand. It came to pass that when Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. Because Moses' hands were heavy, Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands on either side until the going down of the sun, and Joshua discomfited Amalek with the edge of the sword. The LORD then said to Moses, "Write this for a memorial in a book... for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven." Moses built an altar and called the name of it Jehovahnissi, saying, "Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation."
Les Feldick teaches that the Amalekites were Israel's first enemy after leaving Egypt and that they stemmed from Esau's family, making them relatives of Israel. He repeatedly emphasizes that Israel's victories are won by the sovereign God. Les points to the Six-Day War as the miracle working of a sovereign God even while Israel was in unbelief, and he teaches that the Sovereign God will fight the coming invasion of Israel on the hills of Israel, just as He has overthrown enemy armies in the past. The battle against Amalek fits this pattern: God, the true warrior, gave Israel the victory.
Genesis 36:12 shows that Amalek was a son of Eliphaz, who was Esau's son, born to Eliphaz's concubine Timna. Les Feldick notes that the Amalekites were therefore relatives of Israel through Esau, and that the first war Israel had to fight after leaving Egypt was against the Amalekites.
In Exodus 17, Moses stood on the hilltop with the rod of God in his hand while Joshua fought in the valley. The Scripture says that whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. When Moses' hands were heavy, Aaron and Hur held them up steadily, and Joshua discomfited Amalek with the sword. The text directly links the outcome of the battle to the raising of Moses' hands.
Les teaches that God's sovereign control over Israel's battles did not end with the Exodus. He describes the Six-Day War as the miracle working of a sovereign God even though Israel was in unbelief. He also teaches that the Sovereign God will fight the end-times invasion of Israel on the hills of Israel, just as He has routed enemy armies before.
God Gathers Nations to Battle at Armageddon
Les teaches from Zechariah 14 that God will gather all nations against Jerusalem in the day of the Lord, showing God's sovereign control over end-time battles.
Israel's Six-Day War Won by Sovereign God
Les describes Israel's 1967 victory as the miracle working of a sovereign God even while Israel was in unbelief, showing that God fights for Israel.
The Sovereign God Fights for Israel
Les teaches that the Sovereign God will fight the coming invasion of Israel and has overthrown enemy armies in the past, demonstrating that God is the real victor in Israel's battles.
What Really Happens at Armageddon — Revelation 16 & 19
So even though the nation of Israel is predominantly mountainous, you have these valley areas naturally between the various mountain ranges. Now the reason I'm pointing this out is that when God brings the armies of the world to Israel, naturally they're going to put their encampments on those valley floors. And this area of the Valley of Ezdralon has been a battlefield throughout the millennia.
Amalek: Israel's First Enemy After Egypt
Les identifies Amalek as the first enemy Israel fought after leaving Egypt, and traces the Amalekites back to Esau's family through Eliphaz and Timna.
Noah’s Ark: How Did All the Animals Fit? (Genesis 6-7)
So even though the nation of Israel is predominantly mountainous, you have these valley areas naturally between the various mountain ranges. Now the reason I'm pointing this out is that when God brings the armies of the world to Israel, naturally they're going to put their encampments on those valley floors. And this area of the Valley of Ezdralon has been a battlefield throughout the millennia.
Why God Commanded Israel to Destroy Entire Nations — Deuteronomy 7
And they did. They succeeded in quite a few thousand of them. And, of course, God had to, as they say today, He had to do some ethnic cleansing, and so quite a few thousand Israelites lost their life as a result of their losing their separated position. But nevertheless, the nation of Israel remained intact. The Moabites just couldn't do anything about it.
Why Paul Was Never One of the Twelve — Acts 9 Explained
Every time He tried to exercise some persecution, He was the one who ended up hurting, and God is showing it to him now that He was totally fighting a losing battle. Then in verse 6, God is trembling. You see where God has Saul now? Now always remember, all the way up through Biblical times, through human history, what kind of men did God choose to use? Well the lowly.
Exodus 17:11: And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
This verse directly ties the outcome of the battle to the raising of Moses' hand, showing that victory was not by Israel's own strength.
Exodus 17:15: And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:
Moses named the altar Jehovah-Nissi, meaning the LORD is my banner, after God gave Israel victory over Amalek.
Genesis 36:12: And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau's son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these are the sons of Adah Esau's wife.
This verse shows the Amalekites' descent from Esau, making them relatives of Israel and the first enemy Israel faced after the Exodus.
Zechariah 14:1: Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
Les quotes this verse when teaching about God's sovereign control over the future battle of Armageddon.
Zechariah 14:2: For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
This verse shows God gathering the nations to battle against Jerusalem, a future act of His sovereign plan.
God fought the battle. Israel's men were used under Joshua, but the outcome was controlled by God, as shown by Moses' raised hands and the altar name Jehovah-Nissi.
The Amalekites descended from Amalek, the son of Eliphaz, Esau's son, and Timna, Eliphaz's concubine. They were the first enemy Israel fought after leaving Egypt.
Yes. Les calls Israel's victory in the Six-Day War the miracle working of a sovereign God and teaches that God will personally fight the coming invasion of Israel.
Watch the Teaching: Christ the Rock: Spiritual Warfare & The Battle with Amalek