Not Going Back

Not Going Back - Brenton Brown

Hands Up

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. Ex. 17:9-13

Just thinking of Moses doing this makes me wonder if I could do what he did for very long. The use of the staff reminds me of the staff Moses used earlier in Exodus that turned into a snake, an ordinary object God made into one of His wonders. However, I think two other things are going on here.

First, the holding of his hands is a way of praying to God. It is nonverbal communication. I will at times use my hands in gesture to God, especially when I want to acknowledge something He did for me. You see football players doing this after a touchdown. This is body language.

Second, Joshua's troops, battling the Amalekites, could look up on the hill and see Moses in this pose.  It was a reminder that victory rested in God. The swings in their fortunes coincided with the non-verbal "prayer" of Moses, with Aaron and Hur in supporting roles. More prayer, more results.

I don't think it wrong to have activities that remind us of God's ability to work on our behalf. "In all your ways acknowledge Him" goes Prov. 3:6. As long as we don't vest supernatural power in the object or activity, we should be OK.
beanscot's husband

My God of Promise and Hope

Isaiah 43:1-2

New International Version (NIV)

Israel’s Only Savior

43 But now, this is what the Lord says—

    he who created you, Jacob,

    he who formed you, Israel:

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

2 When you pass through the waters,

    I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

    they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

    you will not be burned;

    the flames will not set you ablaze.

That God continues to stand by his imperfect rebellious children is a comfort to me.  I've liked this passage in Isaiah for a long time now.  Because of a song I uploaded to Youtube today, "You Are Mine" by Enter the Worship circle, I've been considering this passage again as well as the life of Moses, God's servant sent to lead the Israelites out of captivity in Egypt.  Anyone who has watched the annual showing of the movie, "The Ten Commandments," knows his story.  This imperfect man, sometimes fearful, sometimes tongue tied, sometimes angry, and sometimes disobedient, lead the Israelites to the Promised Land, a land he couldn't enter because he struck the rock at Meribah to bring water to the Israelites instead of speaking to it as God had instructed.  I think that Moses reason enough to be angry with the children of Israel, but by striking the rock he stole the honor that a holy God so rightly deserved.  Fast forward now to the Transfiguration of Jesus.  On a mountain the Son of God was revealed in all His glory to Peter, James and John, men who yet walked the earth.  Beside Jesus in the transfiguration there appeared Elijah and -drumroll- Moses.  What an honor it must have been for this now citizen of Heaven to return to the time when the prophesies of the Messiah were being fulfilled!   Yes, he sinned and suffered the consequence of that sin, but God was not through with him yet.  He, who was once shielded by God's own hand on Mount Sinai from the full radiance of His Glory, was able stand Jesus side bathed in His glory.  Such is our sure hope.    

Moses Viewing The Promised Land by Frederic Edwin Church