Scripture:
Exodus 17:8-13 ESV
[8] Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. [9] So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow, I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” [10] So Joshua did as Moses told him and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. [11] Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. [12] But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. [13] And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.
Observation:
The battle had been brought to GOD’S chosen people, and Moses was instructing Joshua to gather the men who could fight and get them prepared for the time to do so. Tomorrow, we will fight Aaron and Hur, and I will stand on the top of the hill, lifting our hands in worship. The staff of the Almighty GOD is in the air. Joshua was brave and obedient, gathering the fighting men he went to the battlefield. Aaron Hur and Moses went to the hill, and the fight was on. The battle went on and on. When Moses held his hands high, Israel would prevail. However, Moses was not as young as he once was. His arms would get tired. When they started to drop, Amalek would start to overcome Israel. It did not take long for Aaron and Hur to see that Moses needed some assistance. Placing a rock under him so that he could rest, they stood next to him and held his hands in the air. As the battle raged on as long as Moses lifted his hands in worship to the LORD, Israel was victorious. With the help of Aaron and Hur. The enemy was overcome, and Israel lived to fight another day
Application:
We are not designed to do this alone, and by the grace of GOD… we don’t have to. Lifting our hands in worship and submission to a Father who loves us is the key. But what happens when your arms get tired? Does the battle overwhelm you? Can I give you some good news? GOD has placed you in a community of people… we call them the church. They are next to you for a reason. Letting them into your life and allowing them to stand beside you as the battle goes on is very important. Knowing who your Aaron and Hur are makes it easy when it gets hard, and knowing if you are someone’s Aaron or someone’s Hur is just as important. We are not meant to fight alone. But listen, if you don’t let them place the rock under you so that you can rest, then the battle will be overwhelming. Your arms will get tired, and it will feel like the enemy is going to win. So let’s zero in on this a little bit. How do we fight these battles? Well, for a long time now, I have fought all my battles on my knees with my hands lifted high in worship and submission. As long as I am able to keep my focus on the one who created me in my mother’s womb, the battle seems to fight itself but as soon as my focus changes or I get tired it seems to overwhelm me. Over the years, I have learned to allow others to stand next to me and rely on their strengths when I am weak. Letting others into my life and asking for their support when I am unable to even hold my hands up has brought many victories in my life, and in turn, when my brothers are fighting a battle that is too much for them they know they are not alone… I will be their Aaron or their Hur. I will hold them up in prayer and worship next to them until victory is realized. I want you to notice I did not say won. You see, here is the deal. We have been handed victory. We need only worship the one true king, and at some point, that victory will be realized. Are you someone’s Aaron? Can you be someone’s Hur, or do you need an Aaron, or do you know someone who needs a Hur? Our job as the church is to make sure our brothers and sisters know that in the battle, they are not alone. We will hold them up in worship prayer and submission to a heavenly Father who has already given them victory long enough for them to realize that victory. In your moments of weakness, turn to your brothers and sisters, and let them do what you can’t at the time. Victory is ours. GOD sent HIS son to make sure of that.
Prayer:
Father, we know at times it gets hard, and it may seem like we just can’t do it anymore. You looked through time and saw every moment when we would be overwhelmed, and at just the right time, you have placed just the right people next to us to hold us up and strengthen us when it seems like we can’t go on. You have also placed us around others who need us to hold them up. Your plan is perfect. What an awesome GOD you are. Seeing our hard times and preparing those around us to help in our time of need. Also, preparing us to be that stable support to others as they are in need. Thank you for my church family. Thank you for the ones who hold me up when I can’t, and thank you for allowing me to be a small part of someone’s support system. You are an absolutely amazing GOD and father, and it’s in your son’s mighty name. I pray, amen.