“As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.” (Exodus 17:810-13)
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)
Are you in a battle right now? Have you been struggling to keep on keeping on? How are you doing with that? Are you tired and weak? Are you victorious? Are you going it alone or with others by your side? Is there someone you know who needs “holding up”?
In Exodus we see God’s people following Him into battle. Each person had a role. Some were called to fight - a few were called to fight on the front line. But they would only win if Moses' hands - and only his as Israel’s leader - remained up, so when Moses’ hands grew tired, some of them kindly brought him a stone to put under him so he could at least sit. But his arms were still tired. That’s when Aaron and Hur stepped in, physically holding his hands up - one on either side of him, to make sure his hands remained steady until the sun set. The result? Joshua’s army overcame the Amalketime army. Joshua and his soldier were not alone - Moses was doing what God called Moses to do to support Joshua. When Moses grew tired – he was not alone. Aaron and Hur held his hands up. Some were called to hold others up.
In this passage we see the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 4 illustrated multiple-fold – Moses “holding up” Joshua and his soldiers, Aaron and Hur “holding up” Moses, and God “holding up” his people. We are better together. If you are a leader, do you ask others to help? If you see someone working hard and getting exhausted, are you stepping in to help?
Prayer Prompt: Think of someone you know today who needs “holding up” and pray for them this prayer that Paul offered for the Ephesians: “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:14-19)
Song of the Day: Make us One - Chris Tomlin
