When Amalek Shows Up at the Wrong Time
Imagine this scene: the Israelites have just survived yet another meltdown in the wilderness. First, it was hunger, then thirst. Moses has literally just struck a rock, water is flowing, people are sipping, sighing, and finally settling down. The dust is calming. Everyone thinks:
“Maybe now we can actually enjoy this freedom thing.”
And then - boom! Amalek shows up.
The Amalekites sneak up from the rear, picking on the slow walkers, the weary moms, the grandmas with sore knees, and the kids who haven’t mastered desert cardio yet. They don’t march in with trumpets and swords blazing; they slither in like desert bandits, going after the stragglers. Classic cowardly move.
If you’ve ever had a week where you solved one problem in your business, only for another fire to flare up the next day, then congratulations: you’ve just experienced your own version of Amalek.
Moses’s Annoyed, Chill Response
Here's what's making this story quite comical. When Amalek attacks, Exodus 17:9 says:
Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”
That’s it. No dramatic speech. No frantic military council. Just:
“Joshua, buddy. Grab some guys. Go fight them. I’ll take my stick and stand on a hill. Sorted.”
I don’t know about you, but I can’t help but picture Moses with that sigh of a leader who’s so done with people interrupting his day. Like:
“Really? We just solved the water problem and now this? Amalek, you’re just… inconvenient.”
Joshua, on the other hand, probably looked less impressed:
“Wait, what - tomorrow? You want me to march all the way through this mile-long caravan, round up some fighters along the way, and face the raiders? And you’re just going to… stand on a hill? With your stick?”
“Yes, Joshua. The stick. Trust the stick.”
Calmness Is Precision
It’s funny, but it’s also profound. Moses wasn’t being lazy with his blasé” posture. He was just...well, Moses.
Calm beats chaos. Everyone else panics at the thought of Amalek. Moses keeps his cool. Why? Because he’s seen God split the Red Sea. Compared to that, Amalek is just another annoyance. Panic spreads quickly; a calm mind is contagious.
Precision matters more than frenzy. Moses gives clear, exact instructions:
Joshua → pick men.
Joshua → fight down below.
Moses → stand on the hill, staff in hand.
No wasted words. No scattered energy. No shiny object syndrome. Just role clarity and mobilization.
Don’t let the enemy set your timetable. Amalek attacks today? Fine. We’ll fight tomorrow. That’s Moses refusing to let Amalek dictate the pace and manipulate God's timing. Leaders don’t let crises control their timing; they set the rhythm according to God’s direction.
Poor Joshua
Let’s not forget Joshua in all this. He’s the one running logistics, trying to pull fighters out of a crowd that still thinks of themselves as slaves, not soldiers. He has to rally tired men, get them armed, and march them to the rear of the caravan.
Joshua’s side of the story feels like every startup founder’s nightmare: “We just found some cash to start, now I have to pay this bill, do marketing, and figure out where to sell the product - at the same time.”
But Joshua obeyed. While Joshua fought, the outcome of the battle was decided by Moses’s posture, not Joshua’s sword. When Moses held up the staff, Israel won; when his hands dropped, Amalek gained ground (Exodus 17:11). Action in the midst of your war doesn't have to be loud and noisy.
That’s both humbling and hilarious. The warriors on the ground weren’t the deciding factor. It was the calm guy with the stick on the hill.
Business Application: Amalek as an Annoyance
Let’s make it practical.
In business (and life), Amalek is the problem that shows up just when you thought things were finally stabilizing. It’s rarely the “big boss battle” - it’s the annoying side quest:
The surprise expense.
The client who doesn't pay you.
The electricity that goes out in the middle of a deadline.
The “you need money to make money” thought that sneaks in when you’re trying to launch.
The "your product must be perfect" thought that keeps you from taking action.
Your instinct might be to panic, over-plan, or scramble into chaos mode. But Moses shows us another way:
Stay calm. A steady leader keeps everything steady.
Be precise. Listen. Simple, clear instructions beat ten hours of overthinking.
Move at God’s pace. Don’t let Amalek’s chaos dictate your pace and rhythm.
The Staff in Your Hand
The staff in Moses’s hand wasn’t magic. It was a reminder: God is fighting for us.
You have your own “staff”: the tools, gifts, and resources already in your hand. Maybe it’s your network, your skills, your laptop, your ability to speak, or your creativity. The point is: you don’t need to reinvent everything when Amalek shows up. You just need to lift up what God already gave you.
Final Word
The Amalekites weren’t Israel’s biggest enemy. They were an annoying interruption - and we will see in the bible, they will continue to be because of disobedience. Yet, the way Moses handled them teaches us everything about obedience, precision, and speed.
When Amalek shows up at the wrong time in your business, don’t panic. Don’t drop everything to strategize endlessly or chase a man-made solution. Channel your inner Moses:
Give Joshua his marching orders.
Lift your staff.
Stay calm while everyone else freaks out.
Because sometimes the battle isn’t won by frenzy or force - it’s won by the calm posture of a business leader who knows God’s got it covered.
So the next time a business problem sneaks up on you from the rear, smile, grab your “staff,” and remember: it’s probably just another Amalek. Annoying, yes. But already defeated.
Talk soon,
Petrolene
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P.S. If you’ve been feeling like Amalek keeps showing up in your business journey, don’t worry - you’re not alone. Every entrepreneur faces those sneaky obstacles. The question is: are you truly ready to take your next step with what’s already in your hand? I’ve put together a short Business Readiness Assessment to help you see exactly where you are in the start-up journey and what your next move should be. It only takes a few minutes - click here to take the assessment now.
