Choose Us Out Men — Joseph Hall on Exodus 17

Choose Us Out Men

And Moses said to 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 my hand.

Exodus chapter 17 verse 9

No sooner is Israel's thirst slaked, than God has an Amalekite ready to assault them. The Almighty has choice of rods to whip us with, and will not be content with one trial. They would needs be quarrelling with Moses without a cause; and now God sends the Amalekites to quarrel with them. It is just with God, that they, which would be contending with their best friends, should have work enough of contending with enemies.

In their passage out of Egypt, God would not lead them the nearest way by the Philistines' land, lest they should repent at the sight of war; now they both see and feel it. He knows how to make the fittest choice of the times of evil, and withholds that one while, which he sends another, not without a just reason, why he sends and withholds it: and though to us they come ever, as we think, unseasonably, and at sometimes more unfitly than others; yet he that sends them knows their opportunities.

Who would not have thought a worse time could never have been picked for Israel's war than now? In the feebleness of their troops, when they were wearied, thirsty, unweaponed; yet now must the Amalekites do that, which before the Philistines might not do. We are not worthy, not able to choose for ourselves.

To be sick, and die in the strength of youth, in the minority of children; to be pinched with poverty, or miscarriage of children in our age, how harshly unseasonable it seems! But the infinite wisdom that orders our events, knows how to order our times. Unless we will be shameless unbelievers, O Lord, we must trust thee with ourselves and our seasons, and know, that not that which we desire, but that which thou hast appointed, is the fittest time for our sufferings.

Amalek was Esau's grandchild, and these Israelites the sons of Jacob. The abode of Amalek was not so far from Egypt, but they might well hear what became of their cousins of Israel; and now, doubtless out of envy, watched their opportunity of revenge for their old grudge. Malice is commonly hereditary, and runs in the blood, and, as we use to say of rennet, the older it is, the stronger.

Hence is that foolish hostility, which some men unjustly nourish upon no other grounds, than the quarrels of their forefathers. To wreak our malice upon posterity is, at the best, but the humour of an Amalekite.

How cowardly, and how crafty was this skirmish of Amalek! They do not bid them battle in fair terms of war, but, without all noise of warning, come stealing upon the hindmost, and fall upon the weak and scattered remnants of Israel.

There is no looking for favour at the hands of malice: the worst, that either force or fraud can do, must be expected of an adversary; but much more of our spiritual enemy, by how much his hatred is deeper. Behold, this Amalek lies in ambush to hinder our passage to our land of promise, and subtilely takes all advantage of our weaknesses. We cannot be wise, or safe, if we stay behind our colours, and strengthen not those parts where is most peril of opposition.

I do not hear Moses say to his Joshua, Amalek is come up against us, it matters not whether you go against him or not: or if you go, whether alone, or with company; or if accompanied, whether with many or few, strong or weak; or if strong men, whether they fight or no; I will pray on the hill; but "choose us out men and go fight."

Then only can we pray with hope, when we have done our best. And though the means cannot effect that which we desire, yet God will have us use the likeliest means, on our part, to effect it. Where it comes immediately from the charge of God, any means are effectual: one stick of wood shall fetch water out of the rock, another shall fetch bitterness out of the water: but in those projects, which we make for our own purposes, we must choose those helps which promise most efficacy.

In vain shall Moses be upon the hill, if Joshua be not in the valley. Prayer without means is a mockery of God.

Here are two shadows of one substance; the same Christ in Joshua fights against our spiritual Amalek, and in Moses spreads out his arms upon the hill; and, in both, conquers. And why does he climb up the hill rather than pray in the valley? Perhaps that he might have the more freedom to his thoughts, which, following the sense, are so much more heavenly, as the eye sees more of heaven. Though virtue lies not in the place, yet choice must be made of those places which may be most help to our devotion; perhaps that he might be in the eye of Israel.

The presence and sight of the leader gives heart to the people: neither does any thing more move the multitude than example. A public person cannot hide himself in the valley: but yet it becomes him best to show himself upon the hill.