Support on the Hill

     I have been reading the Book of Exodus with the Good Morning Girls. at Women Living Well.  My other Exodus posts may be found here.

• Exodus 1-5  The Burning Bush 
• Exodus 6-10  Great Lengths
• Exodus 11-16  Brave Grace

     In Exodus 17: 8-16,  we read of a mighty battle.  While Joshua was in the valley fighting a battle, Moses, Aaron, and Hur were up on the hill providing support.  As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.  When Moses arms became too tired to hold up the staff, Aaron and Hur held up his arms for him.
     That passage is often used to show that we need to support our pastors and our leadership by shouldering some responsibility, lending a word of encouragement or in some way offering them refreshment.  I don't disagree with that.  However, I think it is can be more than that.  It also shows the support our leadership needs to have for the people below them. For example, pastors to congregation, parents to children, bosses to employees.  Moses was the leader of the Israelites.  He was supported by the second-in-command, Aaron and Hur.  Together, they supported the Israelites.  To do otherwise would have been to hurt themselves.  Our leaders need to be out on that hill, holding up their hands.  
     We first meet Joshua in this passage.  At the time of the battle against the Amalekites, Joshua was far below Moses in the hierarchy.  Joshua was on the ground, in the battle.  Joshua could have thought, "Look at those guys doing nothing on top of the hill, while I'm down here about to get killed.  Why do I have to do all of the work?"  But Joshua was obedient to Moses and faithful to God.  Joshua succeeded Moses as Israel's leader and became one of only two people who had left Egypt as an adult to actually enter the Promised Land.
     God was showing me a larger truth.  As Christians living in this world, we are in a battle.  Everyday we battle temptation, pressure, and the influences of this world that want us to rebel against God.  Our spouses need to know that we are in their corner.  Our children need to know it, too.  We all go through valleys in our lives and we need support and fellowship to get us through.
     Who are the people that you need to provide support to?   Think about the arenas in your life, home, church, school, work, or community.  Like Moses, we need to lift up holy hands to the throne of the Lord, because the battle is won because of the support on the hill, not necessarily because of the skill of the warriors in the valley.

     This is what the Lord says to you:  Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army.  For the battle is not yours, but God's... The Lord will be with you.   ~2 Chronicles 20:15