Hands Lifted High

“. . . and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.” (Exodus 17:12)

The Israelites were to stand still as the Egyptians pursued them to the edge of the Red Sea; stand still and watch as God fought for them. Here, as the Amalekites pursued God’s people in the wilderness, they were to go forth and fight. God decides life’s battle strategies; there is always a purpose in His reasoning. We must trust His judgment.

Towards the end of their wilderness journey, Moses told Joshua to choose men to fight with Amalek, and the next day, he would stand on top of the hill with the rod of God in his hand. Joshua did as Moses instructed; Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of a hill in plain sight of all the people. When Moses held the rod up (without doubt, praying), Israel prevailed. The rod of God was a reminder to the soldiers fighting and civilians as well, of God’s power when Moses supernaturally summoned plagues upon the land of Egypt. The raised rod symbolized God’s presence, authority, and prayers going upward on behalf of Israel, a reminder that the battle was the Lord’s. But when Moses’ arms became weary and his hands lowered, the enemy triumphed. So, God supplied the help he needed. Aaron and Hur brought a stone for him to sit on, and standing on either side, kept his hands raised all day. Israel prevailed in that battle.

Joshua was the commander who went before Israel fighting. Moses was the intercessor who stood above Israel praying. Aaron and Hur stood beside Moses in his weariness. Our Triune God is the Commander going before and fighting for us, the Intercessor standing before the Father on our behalf, and Strength standing with the weary. Child of God, He supplies what we need. Our struggles, and sometimes weeping, may last for a while, but joy will come (Psalm 30:5). Praise Him—the battle is the Lord’s, and He is the victor.