“And his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. (Exodus 17:12)

The nation of Israel depended on the prayers of Moses for their survival. If Moses lowered his hands, Israel faltered in battle. In fact, the earnest prayer of Moses caused the defeat of Amalek more than the fighting of Joshua. But both were needed. It is this way in spiritual battles. In fighting the flesh and the Old Man, force and fervor, decision and devotion, valor and vehemence, must join forces, to win the day. 

 You must wrestle with your sin, but the major part of the wrestling must be done alone in private with God. Prayer, like Moses' hands, is a token of the covenant before the Lord. The rod was the emblem of God's working with Moses, the symbol of God's government in Israel. Learn, Oh praying saint, to hold up the promises and oaths of God before Him. The Lord can’t deny His own covenant. Hold up the promise before Him, and He’ll be true to His Word. 

 When Moses grew weary, his friends helped him. When you grow weary in prayer, let faith support one hand, and holy hope the other, and pray resting on the Stone of Israel, the Rock of our salvation, and you will persevere and prevail. Beware of faintness in devotion; if Moses felt it, you can be sure you will too. It’s far easier to fight with sin in public, than to pray against it in private. It’s remarked that Joshua never grew weary in the fighting, but Moses grew weary in the praying; the more spiritual an exercise, the more difficult it is for flesh and blood to keep going. Let’s cry, then, for special strength, and the Spirit of God, who helps our infirmities, will enable us to continue with our hands steady "until the going down of the sun"; that is, till our life is over; till we come to Heaven, where prayer is swallowed up in praise.