I love how all through the Bible you can see each story come alive as if it were happening today. I read in Exodus 17:8-13 (NIV), How every time Moses’ hands came down because he got tired, they started to lose the battle! Arron and Hur went to the top of the mountain and noticed Moses was struggling to hold his hands up. They went to support Moses so his hands would remain steady until sunset. They held his hand up! Exodus 17:12-13 ( NIV) “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.” They were “Unified” working together as one, not overpowering each other. Because they worked together with Moses, they won the battle over the Amalekites with a sword. When our sisters and brothers are struggling in life circumstances, we have an opportunity to use the gifts and talents to help and support them! God never planned for us to handle circumstances in life alone. I noticed they never took the staff from Moses, instead they brought him a stone and put it under him and held up his hands together, Hur on one side and Aaron on the other.
Something new always comes to light every time I read scripture. Two things really stood out to me the most, first they didn’t just watch him struggle hoping everything works out, and second they didn’t just take over the situation by removing the staff from his hands! God is revealing His heart for us as family! We are stronger together then we are alone. We can keep going when life is hard as we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God! He will lift us up! All Through scripture we can see how everything fits perfectly together and how God designed us to be in relationship! Ecclesiastes 4:9-11 (NIV) “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10 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. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
God will supply you everything you need to accomplish what He has given you to do. Just when you feel like you’re not able to hold on any longer, God will bring in a sister who speaks “life” in your life, or a brother who encourages your husband and sons! Just being present and available speaks more than words can say! Sometime the weight of the world can leave you speechless and God will bring in those people who will pull up a stone to sit on or a tool to fix your truck! Aaron and Hur didn’t just sit and watch Moses struggle to hold up the staff. They didn’t just sit there waiting to see, like it was a movie, hoping it turns out good for them. They got up and took initiative and did what God intended for them to do. We are His hands and feet. 1 Peter 4:10-11 NIV) “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” We are to use our gifts we have received to serve others. Our purpose isn’t to sit and watch! It’s to do good for God and everyone around us! God moves through us and works in us. God’s purpose for every person using the gift and talents he gave us is for loving God and everyone around us. God’s purpose is beautiful and because we are His masterpiece, all of us are apart of it since the very beginning! We are teaching and leading our children. They are learning from you as you live out what you believe. Living out what God says in scripture about what it looks like to deny yourself for someone else.
God has everything worked out for all of us already! I never knew my van would unexpectedly quit for good, but God did. In advance, God had a vehicle worked out! God is so amazing and even when we can’t see everything, He shows himself in big ways through sisters and brothers in Christ! When you find yourself broken down on the side of the road, a brother in Christ comes along and towes you home before the heat of the sun dehydrates you into dust. The way we lift each other up is using your gifts and talents for God! Acts 4:32 (NIV) “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. It reaches our children at a heart level as hands-on experiences teach the most.They are our future generation and are soaking in our examples from our reactions. They hear your every spoken word but most of all they are imitating your unspoken words (body language). Your children know every expression on your face and know your body language better than words. So, unspoken words are more powerful than the words you say because they speak first! My kids showed me that as they ask me, are you ok? Our actions need to speak as much as our words. My sons saw and experienced what we are supposed to do for each other.
God who is The Great I Am, brought Moses a rock to sit on through Arron and Hur. This represents Jesus is the Rock in which we stand a sure foundation. Also, They held up Moses’ hands until sundown. They came to support and help Moses. God sent them to help Moses accomplish God’s plan for them to win the battle. They didn’t take the staff out of his hands. Instead they supported his hands. We need to know that it is not what I can do on my own, but how we work together to point each other to Jesus! They brought Moses the rock! Jesus is the cornerstone! It is about Unity in the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (NIV) “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” God gave all of us unique abilities and skills to point others to Jesus.
I’m so thankful for our sisters and brothers. God is amazing because we can see His mighty hands at work in unexpected ways. Our younger generation is learning from these life experiences and will begin to notice when a need exists. God shows us through scripture how we are not meant to do life alone! The enemy wants to single us out and isolate us from relationships within the body of Christ. We need to be alert and sober minded by keeping our lamps full, and abide in Jesus! God wants his children to be united in Him! Hebrew 10:23-25 (NIV) “23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. We need to keep spurring each other on to keep going in life and not to give up on doing good for each other especially in hard times! When we workout out salvation with fear and trembling! It means we must pick up our cross all day long, deny ourselves what we think is best by dropping what we think is important and lift up our sister and brother in Christ. It will surprise you on what God says is important and what we think is important. We need God to show us by asking for His will and to give us eyes to see and ears to hear. The world is busy and has so many wonderful things to do and experience. But, what God has for you is beyond our human understanding! We need to live with a Kingdom mindset for God’s glory! When changes in your plans come suddenly, we can Glorify God the Most when we unit together to lift each other up.
“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.” 1 Peter 5:5-9 (NIV) 5In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.” a
6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
Yes ma’am. He makes provision for us in every situation we find ourselves. And when we are supportive of each other, we grow in unity.