Rest and Warriors

“So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed. 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 sunset.” Exodus 17:11-12

Exodus 17 discusses the fight between Amalek and Israel. In verse 11 we read that when Moses held his hand up, Israel prevailed but when he lowered his hands, Amalek prevailed. When Moses became weary, his companions first gave him a place to rest, then went further and physically supported his hands until Joshua overwhelmed them. There are several important things that we must recognize from this interaction. 

1. Even mighty men need the help of others. There is no human being who doesn’t need the support of others to journey through life. This is true of us as believers too. God gives us the Church as a tangible instrument of His arms and legs, visibly representing His love and care for us. We are called to come alongside each other as life begins to overwhelm us however we must be both vulnerable to ask for help and actively ready to provide it when others are struggling. 

1. Be mindful of the first things. The first thing Moses companions attended to was the physical rest of his body by providing his weary body a place to rest. It would seem that the first rest would be for the battle but it was necessary to provide for the physical and practical needs of Moses before they supported his arms in the battle. When someone is in a trial or battle, they can become very weary. Fighting takes work and often, very often, we become faint. As Christians, we have to be mindful of caring for the direct needs of the person before we try to help the situation. 

1. Be ready for second things. After his companions provided for Moses’ physical needs then they entered into the battle themselves by providing physical help. Some battles require others to actually enter in when the trial prevails against us. Once the physical needs are attended to, then we must be ready to provide for the greater battle. That can be done through prayer, service, comfort, encouragement, compassion, physical/practical help, grace, a trusted and safe ear, etc. 

1. Some battles can only be won together. Finally we see that they all worked to ensure victory for Israel. Neither Moses or Joshua won this battle alone, Moses’ friends physically lifted his arms up ensuring victory for Israel; Joshua gained victory through Moses’s intercession; Moses’s companions ensured Moses was able to intercede and all were provided for through the power of God alone. What is interesting in this exchange is that while we know Moses needed physical help, we don’t hear his companions wearied even though they supported his arms until the sunset. I believe God gave them the grace to endure so that they could be able to come alongside Moses. This is true for us too. When we come alongside someone, because we are not in the battle ourselves, we can step away and even when we do enter in, if the battle is not primarily ours, we don’t bear the same weight. In the end, we all fight to ensure the person has victory over their trials.

    My husband, family, friends, homeschool group, and church are currently holding up my arms during this time. I have just begun this battle and I am already worn out by it. I know that I will need every prayer, every encouragement, every truth spoken, every trusted ear, every embrace to get through it as I have never entered a battle like this before. I also know that the Lord fights for me and strengthens those who are fighting with me. I am thankful for those who lift me up in prayer and intercede before the throne for me right now, praying for my healing and my endurance. When I am finally healed, it will be those warriors who have battled for me night and day, that will bear the mark of a great victory and God who will get all the glory.