Amalek and the Amalekites
I. Real enemy of Israel and spiritual enemy of God’s people
A. Like many, if not most, enemies faced by Israel in the Bible, the Amalekites
were both real enemies in the physical world and in the spiritual world.
B. We can learn about spiritual warfare by the recorded history, strategies,
teachings, and prophesy about Amelek and the Amalekites
II. Origin of Amalek and Amalekites
A. Grandson of Esau (Genesis 36). Esau is one who sold his birthright to satisfy
flesh..
B. Esau marries Adah (who is identified as a Canaanite and a Hittite) and they
have a son Eliphaz [verses 2, 4]
C. Eliphaz has a concubine (Timna) [verse 12]. Timna is the sister of Lotan [verse
22]. Lotan is a Horite and a prince of the Horites [verses 20, 29] This makes Timna
royalty.
D. Eliphaz and Timna have son, Amalek [verse 12]
E. This means that Amalek has a bloodline of Esau, Canaan, Heth (Hittite), Horite
and could easily detest Jacob (Israel)…even after they go into the promise land
F. Deuteronomy 2: 12 records that Esau displaces Horites from Mt. Seir which may
account how his son has a princess as a concubine
III. Amalek, without any recorded cause, attacks Israel as they leave Egypt.
A. First recorded attack after Egypt – perhaps what Balaam declared as Amalek first
among nations
B. Deuteronomy 25: 17-19 reveals that Amalek attacked from rear, attacked worn
and weary. Israel called to remember and to blot out remembrance of Amalek who
did not fear God
C. In Exodus 17, we find the people tired, disgruntled, and complaining. God
provides them water from the rock. Amalek attacks. Joshua fights and defeats as
long as Moses’ arms hold up his staff.
D. In verses 14, 16 God curses Amalek and declares it will be generation to
generation
E. Worth noting that in verse 15, we learn YHWH Nissi
IV. King Saul is commanded to destroy the Amalekits
A. After years of harassment from Amalekites, even after the Israelites occupy the
promise land, [Numbers 14: 41-45; Judges 3: 12=13]
B. God gives the command to destroy this enemy [1 Samuel 15: 2-3]
C. In disobedient, Saul spares king Agag of Amalekites….and justifies [verses 9,
15]
D. Costs Saul kingdom and is rejected by God and God regrets making Saul king
[verses 28,35]
E. Agag is killed by Samuel [verse 33]
V. Almost 600 years later,
A. Esther 3: 1 Haman is a descendent of king Agag and seeks to destroy all Jews
[verse 6] and is called the enemy of the Jews [verse 10]
B. Haman, in a position of power, has an elaborate plan to destroy Jews
C. Like Saul, Mordecai, and presumably his cousin Esther, are Benjaminites
D. Esther has to outwit Haman and authorizes Jews to fight when Haman’s plan
activated
E. Haman is hanged on gallows he built to hang Mordecai [Esther 7: 10]
F. King permits Jews to destroy, kill, annihilate their enemy [8: 11], and they
succeed [9: 5]
G. About 1055 years between Moses (and Amalek’s first attack) to Esther’s dealing
with Haman. That is about 36 generations.
VI. Spiritually
A. We have an enemy that attacks after we leave the world’s bondage headed
towards abiding in Jesus….our Egypt to Promise Land journey
B. While some of the worldly bondage we have bid farewell, we will have an
enemy to attack us when we are weary and before our battles to possess the
promises
C. This attack, like Amalek, is cowardly, gets us when we are weary, shoots us in
the back, and takes time to defeat. We will continue to fight him in the promised land
D. Jewish teaching is Amalek represents the doubts that arise when we have
disbelief and disregard of God’s plan and path. When under this attack, we become
unresponsive and irrational to reason. The Hebrew root word (Amal) from which
Amalek comes from means to vex or to sorrow or to trouble.
E. Amalek attacks are when we complain about and to God. We are vulnerable to
wayward thoughts that cool our awe for God. It is often of time when we are more
concerned about what we deserve or should have.
F. Amalek does not fear God, and like wolves, preys on the stragglers and those
apart from the herd. Amalek is patiently waiting for an opportunity to attack
VII. Heads up
A. Be sober-minded and alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He
prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. [1 Peter 5: 8]
B. Remember, just because you win a battle with Amalek does not mean that he is
out of the picture
C. YHWH Nissi [Exodus 17: 15]
D. If you lack perfect peace, your mind is NOT stayed on God [Isaiah 26: 3]
E. Given the opportunity by God, destroy Amalek of your life; blot out his name.
Even if you are tempted to keep some around for your identity or glory, destroy him.
F. 2 Corinthians 12: 10 = Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses,
in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
