Moses--Day 21

Monday, September 27

Moses: Called, Challenged, Changed

Day 21—Helping Hands

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 the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”

…As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. Exodus 17: 8-10

Suggested reading: Exodus 17:8-15, Exodus 18

As the Hebrews followed God’s direction in their traveling and their camping, they were at this point, attacked by the Amalekites. These people were descendants of Esau, and they were mean. These nomads killed and plundered for pleasure. God instructed Moses how to fight them so that he could once again prove his power to both his people and to the enemy. God told Moses to stand at the top of a hill and hold up the staff. This “staff of God” would be the avenue of victory over the Amalekites.

Things were going great until Moses got tired. His brother Aaron and his friend Hur fixed this problem by setting a stone underneath him so he could sit down, and then both of these men 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….

Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. (17: 12-15).

In chapter 18, the story continues and we find that Moses needs help in another way. Since he was almost “back home” near Midian, where he was a shepherd for forty years, his father-in-law Jethro came to visit him. After a time of celebrating God’s MANY victories on behalf of the Israelites, Jethro then observed all that Moses was doing as a leader. When he witnessed Moses judging all the people’s disputes, both large and small, he said, “What you are doing is not good…The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone” (v. 17-18).

Moses listened to the wise advice of his father-in-law and delegated the work into the hands of capable God-fearing, trustworthy men who hated dishonest gain… They became officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens (v. 21).

Thoughts:

Every now and then random lyrics that correspond to my selected topic enter my mind while typing a post. Somewhere in the midst of writing about Aaron and Hur and then good ole’ Jethro, I started singing to myself, “I get by with a little help from my friends.” Now I can’t remember the last time I heard this Beatle’s song, nor do I know any other words within the song, but this one line can be our mantra for the day.

I’ve said this in a previous post, day 10: we are not meant to “go it alone.” Moses needed HELP in more ways than one, and so do we.

Don’t be too afraid (or too prideful) to ask for capable and reliable people to “hold your arms up” in times of leadership, OR in times of crisis, OR in seasons of numerous responsibilities, OR in times of sorrow. Allow friends into your world—be vulnerable—be human. Do you need help? Ask. This person cannot be your Savior, but she can be your friend.

And of course, the flip side of this is…BE that encourager to somebody who needs it. Is there someone you can offer a helping hand to today? Again, but in reverse, you cannot be her Savior, but you can be her friend.

What is God calling you to do?

Will you do it?

Going deeper and sweeter: 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 10:24-25; 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Dear Lord,

Thank you for how you have designed the body of Christ to work; we cannot function healthfully without being connected to each other in some way. Help us to be willing participants today, whether it’s giving help or receiving it. Amen.