So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle. ~Exodus 17: 10-13
If we understood all of the subtle intricacies of how God uses people in our lives, our minds would be completely blown. Most of us go through our days without recognizing it, but God has people positioned in our lives, right now, to help us, to communicate His truth to us, or to direct our paths to where he wants us to be.
That day when Moses stood atop the hill at Rephidim to oversee the battle between the Israelites and the Amalekites, the Bible tells us he wasn’t there alone. Moses’ brother Aaron and Hur (Moses’ companion) were there to observe the battle alongside him.
As the battle ensued, Moses lifted the staff God gave him to the heavens, seeking His divine help to deliver the Israelites over their enemy. Initially, the they were having their way with the Amalekites. But as the battle wore on, Moses’ arms grew tired and heavy. And each time the staff was lowered, the Amalekites would regroup and regain the momentum. As Aaron and Hur noticed this, they came up with a brilliant idea. “Here, Moses. Sit on this stone that we’ve brought for you and allow us to help you keep the staff raised to the heavens.” With Aaron on one side of Moses and Hur on the other, they assisted Moses in keeping the staff raised to the heavens.
Although the fighting went on to sunset, the Israelites would ultimately prevail victorious.
There are times when each of us finds ourself in the wilderness and heavily engaged in some sort of battle. Have you identified an Aaron and Hur in your own circle of Christian friends who are eager to offer you their strength, assistance, and encouragement when the battle gets really hard? Do you have people who you can confide in, whose wisdom and confidence you trust? Those who will be there when you’re at your weakest to help keep you from growing weary and giving up?
God has no intention of seeing us fail. But He does want us to recognize that, just as it was with Moses’, we too are limited in our human power. So although we ultimately rely on His strength to overcome our battles, we need the strength of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to help remind us, encourage us, and assist us to keep moving forward in faith when we’re behind enemy lines.
Charles Spurgeon once said, “The greatest enemy to human souls is the self-righteous spirit which makes men look to themselves for salvation.”
As we reflect on the perilous nature of self-reliance, let us embrace God’s truth revealed through Jesus Christ: that salvation cannot come through self-dependence, but through a humble reliance on God’s grace, mercy, and direction.
Questions Worth Considering
1 The staff Moses carried was a symbol of God’s awesome power and authority. In what ways do we trust in God’s sovereignty and authority in our own lives, especially during challenging times?
2 In what ways can we identify with Aaron and Hur, who supported Moses by holding up his hands? How can we be pillars of support for others in their times of need?
3 Reflect on a recent “battle” or struggle in your life that God helped you overcome through the help of a fellow Christian. Is there someone currently in your life going through a similar challenge with whom you can share how God helped you?
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