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The Beginning of the End
Just before his death Moses delivered to his people the solemn
charge: “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. ... You will blot out the remembrance
of Amalek from under heaven. You shall not forget” (
Deuteronomy
25:17-19
). Concerning this wicked people the Lord declared, “The
hand of Amalek is against the throne of Jehovah” (
Exodus 17:16
,
KJV margin).
The Amalekites were not ignorant of God’s character or of His
supreme authority, but they had set themselves to go against His
power. They made fun of the miracles performed by Moses before
the Egyptians, and they had taken an oath by their gods that they
would destroy the Hebrews, boasting that Israel’s God would be
powerless to resist them. The Israelites had not threatened them—
their assault was unprovoked. To show their defiance of God they
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tried to destroy His people. The Amalekites had been bold sinners
for a long time, yet God’s mercy had still called them to repentance.
But when the men of Amalek attacked the tired and defenseless
ranks of Israel, they sealed their nation’s doom. God’s hand extends
as a shield over all who love and fear Him—let all beware that they
not strike that hand, for it wields the sword of justice.
Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, now set out to visit the He-
brews and restore to Moses his wife and two sons. Moses, the great
leader, went out with joy to meet them and brought them to his tent.
Jethro’s Wise Advice
As Jethro remained in the camp, he soon saw what heavy burdens
rested on Moses. Not only were the general interests and duties of
the people referred to him, but the controversies that arose among
them as well. He said, “I make known the statutes of God and His
laws.” But Jethro protested, saying, “This thing is too much for you;
you are not able to perform it by yourself.” He counseled Moses
to appoint proper persons as rulers of thousands, others as rulers
of hundreds, and others of tens. These were to judge in all minor
matters, while the most difficult and important cases should still
be brought to Moses. This counsel was accepted, and it not only