EXODUS 17
In chapter 17 we have a good deal on the place Joshua is to have. He is introduced informally, not in the way of light and authority but in relation to the thought of Christ in us. And so he is brought in at various crises, illustrating the work of God in the saints in a hidden way, which would assert itself in a crisis; that work develops secretly in soul history in the wilderness testings and finally Christ has the supreme place in the saints. He is magnified before the people, and they are thus in a state to enter the land.
In regard to the position of Moses, Aaron and Hur in verse 10, it is suggested that one could liken this to the organism of a man’s body, functioning co-relatively. It is not what is in heaven. It represents elements here in the Spirit for support in the conflict: the Lord’s authority in Moses, intercession in Aaron and purity in Hur (who is also brought in without formal introduction as illustrating the work of God in its spontaneity in the soul).
The use of the stone in verse 12 suggests wisdom laying hold of a provision to hand; maybe some principle which is divine and affords support in the battle. All this pertains to our mixed condition, Moses’ hands being at times heavy. But the combination of spiritual elements acting together like the functioning of a human body results in personal [p. 235] victory in the soul, all this being found in Romans 6 and onwards.
‘Jehovah my banner’ (verse 15) is military. Amalek putting his hand on the throne would be disputing divine authority in the believer’s heart by working on the flesh in him.