January 24, 2020
Today, are you battle weary? Are you in need of some refreshing, some assistance? Some relief?
Exodus 17:8-16 (NIV) The Amalekites Defeated
8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 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.” 10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 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. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. 14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. 16 He said, “Because hands were lifted up against the throne of the Lord, the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”
If you close your eyes and envision this you will see a big battle going on between these armies, each having its successes and failures, I wonder if it resembled a modern day football game, all running down to your side, now running back to mine - sometimes the Amakekites were making ground and winning and sometimes the Isrealites were winning. I see in my imagination dust kicking up and a fierce battle for the ground of Rephidim, they needed this to be the stop point since they had been wondering around for many years. Far up on that hill Moses with his arms held high, staff of God in his hands. This was a sure sign to Joshua and the Israelites that God would bless them in the battle. Go back again to the picture, surely it was hot down in the battle but up on that hill had to have been no shade and pretty hot too. Don’t think Moses letting down his arms to get a cool drink was an option if the battle was going to be won – right? You’re getting the picture. This was a tough battle and a tough position for Moses to take. Wasn’t his first nor was it his last. He took up the mantle though to be the “flag bearer” for the battle weary men who were fighting below. Now on the other hand if you think Moses didn’t have some battle you’re wrong – ever tried to hold your hands straight up in the air for 10 minutes? It’s not easy I tell you, it’s pretty darn hard. Add a staff and yikes. So it goes on minutes, and hours and still Moses knows he has to stand his ground and hold the staff. Well you know what else we can pretty much guess was also going on, the enemy was after Moses, see he didn’t want them to win, he didn’t want anything God was blessing to be happening so I’m sure he sent heat, he sent pesky bugs, he sent thirst, he sent jello arms and Moses had to have some help. Let me stop right here and ask you – been in battle? Been in battle lately? How was it? Up and down? I think if we are honest that is how every battle goes. Some days it’s your day and some days it’s not.
Battle weary? Ok, So the first line of defense we all know is God, pray for your battle, pray for your strength and pray for God to deliver you an Aaron and Hur to hold your arms when you can’t hold them. Bring that one or more someone’s in to your life to be there when your arms are tired and weak, when you need a cool drink, when you might need a gentle reminder that God is near and that your family and friends are too. Don’t you go in to battle unprepared. Make sure you have your Aaron and Hur with you.
I challenge you to determine who is your Aaron & Hur? Seek them out in your life, if you don’t readily see them then ask God to show you who they are.
I also challenge you to find someone out there who needs an Aaron & Hur and be that for them. You be there to hold up their arms when they are battle weary.
It is a powerful statement to say – my friend, I see your battle ahead – I will be in prayer for you through this battle and I want to be your Aaron, I will be there, I will hold up your arms.
Last thing my battle weary friends, it is hard at times when you are in the trenches, we all know that. Some battles are long and hard and leave many scars. You can be just as beat down as it gets, you can even think there is nothing that can help. Trust me when I say this – because I am as sure as sure gets… battles and more battles and more battles… the objective is to win the war and I will tell you a secret that I think you already know, if so then it’s a reminder - the war has already been won. I’ve read the last page and it says – we win – the end.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the gift of battles fought before us, so that we could have the freedoms we have now. God I just ask that you be with all of us that are fighting a battle right now. God just give us peace in this battle knowing You are with us and that You will send an Aaron & Hur to help. Thank You for the Aaron’s and Hur’s out there Father just let them know how much they are appreciated, needed and wanted. Thank You too that You sent Jesus. Amen