227: Jesus Has Defeated Anxiety and Stress

We can learn alot about Jesus through the types and shadows of the Old Testament. The Old is the New concealed. The New is the Old revealed.

One story that gives us an awesome picture of how Jesus has defeated anxiety and stress and how effective warfare is executed through rest can be found in Exodus 17.

After the Israelites were delivered from the hands of the Egyptians through the Red Sea, God led them through the wilderness for two months until they reached the foot of Mount Sinai. During that time period God showered His people with grace even though they complained and were a “stiff-necked and rebellious people.”¹ They complained about the waters of Marah being bitter, and He provided sweet waters for them. They complained about not having enough to eat, and He rained bread from heaven for them. Every time that complained, He demonstrated His grace.

There was only one battle fought during that time period of pure grace: the battle with the Amalekites. No Israelite died, and when God defeated the Amalekites, He declared His name: Jehovah Nissi. It was another fresh demonstration of the Lord’s grace.

Here is that account from Exodus 17:

“Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said to Joshua, ‘Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.’ So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.’ And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-LORD-Is-My-Banner [Jehovah Nissi]; for he said, ‘Because the LORD has sworn: the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.’” (Exodus 17:8-16)²

Every detail is important, and this story is loaded with symbolism for us! The Israelites were camped at Rephidim by the direction of God’s presence.³ When they first reached Rephidim, if you recall, there was no water, so God gave them water from the rock.⁴ “Rephidim” literally means “rests or resting places.”⁵ They were living life and not looking for a fight when all of a sudden the enemy Amalek came against them. “Amalek” comes from the Hebrew word “amal” which means “trouble, labor, toil.”⁶ Think about it – they were resting in Rephidim when trouble, labor, and toil attacked them. In fact, in Deuteronomy there is a reference to this event where we learn that Amalek attacked them from the rear while Israel was weary from their journey, and he slaughtered the weakest first!⁷ Can you see the symbolism for us? When we’re resting and weary from the journey, the enemy sends trouble, labor and toil our way. He sneaks up from behind when we least expect it. What should our response be? Let’s look at the story again to find out.

While Israel was on the field in the battle, Moses was on the hill with his hands raised. As long as his hands were in the air, Israel prevailed in the battle. When Moses became weary and his hands went down because he was tired, Amalek gained an advantage in combat with them. His friends came, made Moses sit on a rock, and they held his hands up to keep them steady. Meanwhile, Joshua, which means “Yahweh (JESUS) is deliverance,” defeated the enemy!

The word “steady” is the Hebrew word “emuwnah” which is also translated faith or faithfulness.⁸ The use of this word is the first time FAITH is mentioned in the Bible – in the context of the enemy coming against our REST!

So what does all this say to us? When the enemy attacks with trouble, labor, or toil, we sit down in rest and raise our hands in faith. Faith is our response! Others come along beside us to encourage us, and we all declare the finished work of our Jehovah Nissi, our heavenly Joshua.

Through the cross and resurrection, Jesus has blotted out the remembrance of trouble, labor, and toil so that we can rest in Him, even while enduring the most difficult circumstances. We can set our minds on things above, feasting on God’s love and peace in the presence of our enemies.⁹

God has given us the ability by His Spirit to live the stress-free life of unending supply and protection. He wants us to sit down and rest.

REST is our warfare.
REST is our obedience.
REST is our faith.

(from pages 331-333 of Unveiling Jesus)

Want more from Tricia Gunn? Check out excerpts from the Unveiling Jesus 20-part series!

Unveiling Jesus, by Tricia Gunn, is a verse by verse study of the pure gospel of grace. It’s an amazing journey of love, identity, and freedom in Christ.

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¹Exodus 32:9
²Scripture taken from the New King James Version®.  Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.  Used by permission.
³Exodus 13:21
⁴Exodus 17:1-7
⁵H7508 (Rĕphiydiym), Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon, website: http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=H7508&t=KJV, accessed 6-11-14
⁶H5999 (amal) and H6002 (Amalek), Bible Hub, website, http://biblehub.com/topical/a/amal.htm, accessed 6-11-14
⁷Deuteronomy 25:17-19
⁸H530 (emuwnah), Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon, website: http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=H530&t=KJV, accessed 6-11-14
⁹Psalm 23:5