Tucked neatly into five verses in the 17th chapter of Exodus is found a powerful portrayal of a battle-weary, yet faithful Moses. While this passage may have little screen time in God’s narrative, it packs a big message. Let’s unpack it together this week …
Keep It Steady
But Moses’ hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set.
Exodus 17:12, NASB
God’s people were under attack by the Amalekites at Rephidim, and His church is under attack today. There may be no swords being drawn, but the spiritual battle is real and the effects are undeniable.
The statistics are alarming. The American church is in decline. Pastors are walking away from their pulpits and churches are shutting their doors. In many cases, more people are sliding out the back door of our churches than are entering through the front doors.
We are greatly blessed by those who have accepted their call by God and are faithfully leading, serving, and encouraging God’s people. Our pastors, missionaries, and other lay leaders are on the front lines of battle as they serve God and serve others. They fight battles that, like Moses, leave them weary, exhausted, and overwhelmed. They get sick. Their marriages struggle. They have more bills than they have money in the bank. And their children are faced with the same worldly temptations that ours are.
None of us are made to go to battle alone, and just as Aaron and Hur rallied around Moses, it’s important that you and I encourage those who have accepted God’s call to serve.
Sometimes encouragement comes in the forms of spoken or written words. Other times it’s in meeting a tangible need, but most importantly, we must come alongside them and keep their arms lifted high in prayer. We must be committed to praying for them personally, as well as for their families, and for their leadership. It was prayer that won the battle for the Israelites, and it is prayer that will win the battle today.
I ask you today, friend to friend, how can we encourage those who have been entrusted by God to lead us?
Dear Heavenly Father, we lift up our pastors, missionaries, and ministry leaders to You. Lord, we ask for their equipping by You to do the work You have called them to do. Please show each of us how we can encourage them and help us to commit to prayer on their behalves. Amen.
Amazed by His grace,
Traci