Moses, Aaron, Hur & Joshua

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.

Exodus 17:10-13

Joshua and his men fought this battle against the evil Amalekites. Moses stood on the hill above and as long as he raised the staff of God in his hands above his head, Joshua and the Israelites were winning. When Moses grew tired and dropped his hands, the enemy would win.

Holding your hands up in the air is difficult and can quickly become painful! This was a drill that our basketball coach would have us do during practice. We’d all stand in a defensive position with our hands in the air. In 10-12 minutes, however, pain would begin to shoot through our arms and shoulders and one by one we’d be done.

Now Moses was a man (!), so let’s say he could go 20-30 minutes raising the Staff of God above his head. As studly as that would be, it wouldn’t be long enough to win the battle. An hour wouldn’t be long enough…

The Staff represented the Presence and Power of God. Did God need His Staff raised for Him to win the victory for His people? No, of course not. He is not limited in any way! There would also be numerous other battles that the Staff would not be raised. The ‘battle is the Lord’s’ and He would continually victorious. So what’s going on here? What’s the point?

Certainly this imagery highlights several truths about God’s Kingdom for me.
• God’s Presence is what guarantees victory
• God uses people in this battle
• The people God uses need help!

Moses, Aaron, Hur and Joshua – God used them all in this battle. Moses needed Joshua and Joshua needed Moses! Moses needed Aaron and Hur. These two supported the arms of the man of God, keeping them raised until sundown. Aaron and Hur needed Moses… and Joshua. Joshua needed Aaron and Hur. And all of them needed Almighty God to show Himself strong and win the battle through them.

The Kingdom of Heaven is a ‘team sport.’ We need each other. There are times in the battle that I will be any of these four: Moses, Aaron, Hur or Joshua. God has decided to use people in this battle, so sometimes I will be Joshua – in the thick of the war. Other times I will be Moses, standing in the gap for others, exalting Christ and interceding for them. This might be the most difficult, as Moses experienced. Without intercession, however, God’s people will not win. There are times I will be Aaron or Hur, one who supports the man of God who is standing in the gap for God’s people. Each role is needed! Without any of them the enemy will win.

I wonder how many times the enemy has won a victory, small or big, in my life, the life of my family or church because I didn’t step up to serve. I took my eyes off of Christ in the middle of the battle and lowered my hands and the enemy took some ground or gained a foothold. How many times have I been too dense or selfish and not supported the arms of my brothers or sisters around me and victory was elusive and not realized?

My Lord and my God – thank You for this lesson from Your Word. Give me spiritual eyes to see the battle that rages all around me. Thank You for the reminder of our roles and Your role in the spiritual war. Be victorious today! Thank You for the grace I need to walk with and serve You this day. Thank You for the power of Your Word. Help me to exalt You before Your people, keeping my eyes fixed on You. I pray in Jesus’ Name…