Scripture
Exodus 17:8-13- “The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 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.' So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 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."
Observation
I’m no military strategist by any means, but I’ve seen enough movies to know that the way to win a battle is by having the biggest armies, the best fighters, and the strongest, most advanced weapons. On the large screen, this often guarantees victory, but in our life situations, this doesn’t help us at all. So what can we do about the daily battles we are facing?
This came to mind as I read Exodus 17 and the battle Moses would lead the Israelites through. The Amalekites brought the war to God’s people, bringing an unprovoked attack at Rephidim, and Moses jumped to action. He told Joshua to assemble the soldiers for battle while he prepared to wage his own war. The next day Joshua and the soldiers engaged in physical combat with the enemy, while Moses engaged in spiritual combat. Moses would take a posture of prayer at the top of the hill, hands raised to God, and as long as he prayed, they succeeded. Their victory, their success, their lives were contingent upon Moses’ prayers so closely that whenever he would even lower his hands they began to lose. As the war waged on, Moses became tired, and it was then that Aaron and Hur joined the battle standing by his side and steadying his arms until they finally overcame the Amalekites.
Application
This is truly an incredible story, but what’s even more incredible are these two Divine Truths that are held within this story:
- Many of our daily fights won’t be won with arguing and altercations but through prayer and petitions to God. We know His power is greater than ours, we know His solutions are better than ours, we know His way is better than ours, yet so often we put our daily fights into our own hands instead of His. Prayer places our fights where they belong…in His hands.
- We weren’t meant to do it alone. Even with Moses’ direct connection to God, he still needed friends to help. When he was tired they were by his side, when he was weak they held him up, and when he was falling short in the battle they jumped in to assist. How often do we push people away when we’re tired, or hide when we are weak, or run away when we’re falling short because of shame or pride? It’s in these times that we need others by our side. We need people like that, and we need to be people like that. Helping others battle can be hard, strenuous, and dirty work, but we must not shy away from it. Battle beside and for your brother…never against!
Prayer
Jesus, I am always amazed at Your power, Your plan, and how impossible situations are turned around when we trust Your way. Forgive me for not truly trusting the power of prayer. It’s the key to winning our battles, so please help us to live out this truth with intentional action and a commitment to prayer. Please also show us people that we can surround ourselves with that will help us through every circumstance, and help us to be selfless people that run to aid, support, and pray for others in their times of need. Ultimately Jesus, help us to daily surrender our daily struggles to You! In Jesus’ name, Amen!
