Exodus 17:8-16

Read Exodus 17:8-16

Helpful Background Information: 

• The main antagonist in the book of Esther is a guy named Haman who is presented to us as an Agagite (Esther 3:1). As an Agagite, we know that he was a descendant of King Agag the Amalekite (1 Samuel 15). This context is really important, as it shows us that the book is actually a culmination of a centuries-long feud. 

• After the Exodus, the Amalekites were the first nation to attack the Israelites while they were still vulnerable (Exodus 17). As a result, in verse 14, the LORD tells Moses that He will completely blot out the memory of Amalek under heaven. Moses, then, replied by saying that the LORD would be at war with Amalek from generation to generation (v.16). 

• That proved itself to be true, as King Saul tragically spared the Amalekite King Agag in 1 Samuel 15 despite God’s clear command. As a result of Saul’s sin, the Amalekites lived on and reached their highest point of opposition in the action of Haman. Through Esther and Mordecai, however, God triumphs over the Amalekite threat that Israel failed to eradicate centuries earlier. 
  

Reflection Questions: 

• God’s promise to judge Amalek was fulfilled in His timing, not immediately. How does this challenge your expectations about when and how God should deal with evil?

• In preserving Israel from Haman’s attempt to destroy them, God also preserved the line through which the Messiah would come. How does this truth from the book of Esther deepen your appreciation for God's commitment to His redemptive plan in Christ?

• Haman represents a recurring pattern of opposition to God’s purposes throughout Scripture. How does Jesus’ ultimate victory over sin, death, and evil provide hope when you face opposition today?