Daily devotional · July 27
Hands Held Up
“After this, the Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with the staff of God in my hand.” Joshua did as Moses had instructed him and fought against the Amalekites, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed; but when he lowered them, Amalek prevailed. When Moses’ hands grew heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur held his hands up, one on each side, so that his hands remained steady until the sun went down. So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his army with the sword.”
Israel was fighting Amalek in the valley while Moses stood on a hilltop with the staff of God in his hands. As long as his arms stayed raised, Israel prevailed; when they dropped, the enemy gained ground. But arms get heavy. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for Moses to sit on and stood at his sides, holding up his hands until sunset. Nobody in this story won alone. The leader needed helpers, and the helpers did a quiet, physical, unglamorous job. We often picture faith as personal and private, yet God regularly uses other people to hold us up when we cannot hold ourselves. Today, think of someone whose arms are growing tired, maybe a parent, a pastor, a friend in a long struggle. Do something specific to support them, and if you are the tired one, ask for help.
Prayer
Lord, lift my arms when I am weary, and use me to lift someone else's.