Aaron and Hur

“So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.” -

Exodus 17v10-12

Israel was about to learn that their journey through the wilderness was not only going to have times of huger and thirst, but there were battles to be fought as well.

The first battles was to be against the Amalekites, descendants of Esau, at Rephidim Moses set Joshua out as the military commander and then he went up on the hill to intercede with God for the nation. Moses lifted up his arm in prayer with the rod of God in his hands. As the battle wore on Moses, Aaron, and Hur noticed the success of the troops in battle depended on whether Moses had his hands raised or not. When Moses got tired and his arms drooped the Amalekites were winning. When he had his hands raised Israel was winning. Moses could not keep his arms raised all day.

Aaron and Hur noticed this and acted. First they found a stone for Moses to sit on to allow him to alleviate some of the weariness. Then Moses and Aaron sat down next to Moses, one on his right and one on His left. Every time Moses allowed his arms to drop Aaron and Hur would hold up his arms for him. As a result Moses arms were held steady all day and the battle was won!

Spiritual warfare was never intended to be fought alone. Only Moses could hold up His arms before God in this case. Aaron and Hur could not actually take the rod and hold it up for Moses. There was something they could do however. They could assist Moses and uplift his arms for him when he grew weary.

Do you know a Moses today who is weary in a spiritual battle? He or she may be worn out and their arms may be getting heavy. You may not be able to fight their battle for them, but you can uplift them in prayer. May we dedicate ourselves today to be like Aaron and Hur for those like Moses, who grow weary in their battles.