We Need Each Other

One of my favorite stories in the Old Testament is in Exodus 17 where Aaron and Hur hold up Moses' arms in order for the Israelites to win a battle against their enemies, the Amalekites. It's fascinating to me the way God uses several of the Israelite leaders to win this particular battle. Exodus 17:8-13 says "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 top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.' So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur 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."

This account of what happened at Rephidim is a great example of how we all need each other. The way I see it, if God intended to give the Amalekites into Israel's hands, he could have done it in a number of much more simple ways. He could have simply had Joshua overpower them or He could have defeated them Himself. Instead, He had Joshua and the men do the fighting, Moses raising the staff of God to bring the power and presence of God to the people, and Aaron and Hur supporting Moses' arms when he grew tired. It was a total team effort. Joshua and the people needed Moses, who needed Aaron and Hur, all of whom needed the Lord. That's the way things work in God's economy. Progress and solutions are seldom accomplished completely on our own.

In this time of life, when there are so many concerns and fears that can make us feel like we just need to hunker down and not go out, or issues threaten to pull us apart, lean into the church, the Body of Christ. Picture Moses on the top of the hill holding up the staff of God, Aaron and Hur by his side holding up his arms, and Joshua and the men winning the battle below. Beloved, God has great things for us to do together. We need each other. We support one another. We look to the Lord for His power and presence.

Pastor Darren