Just a part of the victory

by Tami Rudkin
Tuesday, January 22, 2008 1:48 PM MST

The battle raged as swords caused blood to flow and mothers to be sonless. Fierce nomads who sneered at death and killed for pleasure attacked the band of Israelites moving through the desert shortly after their release from bondage.

I think of Moses, the great deliverer, the spokesman for God, about this time. What was going through his mind?

The Egyptians had chased them with voices raised in a war cry that threatened massacre. The people begged God for food to eat while traversing the countryside. Water was scarce in the dry, desolate desert. And now this, a band of warring renegades.

Do you wonder if he ever said, “I have had it!” or “I am really tired."? I don’t want to do this anymore.”

I have a feeling he did. Moses was human. Physically, he must have had weary moments. Mentally, he must have fought fatigue.

We know from history’s account that he had a temper and could act irrationally at times.

When these warring vagabonds attacked God’s people, what was Moses’ response?

Moses sent out young Joshua to fight with swords. Then he went to the top of the hill with God’s staff in his hands and two friends to help him.

As long as Moses could keep his hands raised high, the Israelites were winning the bloody battle. However, when he lowered his hands, the tide turned and the enemy began to dominate.

Moses grew tired. His arms trembled. His back ached. The worn wooden rod felt like a ton of bricks.

I imagine he praised God at first because he could see the victory below him. But did his praises turn to cries of help?

Moses needed assistance and he knew not to go to the mountain alone. Aaron and Hur were not only family, but also friends. Standing on the hill with Moses, watching the battle wage below them, they must have prayed.

They must have celebrated as they realized that God’s hand was not only protecting them, but making them victorious. They must have been concerned when Moses’ arms and spirit grew tired.

Looking at Moses, looking to each other, looking at the battle below, they moved to do the only logical thing in this perilous situation … they moved to his side, one on each side, and they held his hands up.

Their arms were raised in obedience to the king of kings and in the realization that their power came from God alone. Their arms were raised in victory, and their arms were raised in friendship of the deepest kind.

Aaron and Hur never would be the heroes of the Israelite story, but they were, by their willingness to stand behind their friend, those who made victory possible.

I can see the three of them silhouetted against the desert sky at sunset. Arms raised to God while the sweet taste of victory washed over them.

Weary smiles, praises from parched lips and thankful hearts for a God who was with them and warred for them. God had brought the ultimate victory over the ravaging enemies. Not one, but three men, stood as conduits of his power.

Sometimes I am the Moses … God has given me a specific role in his kingdom’s work. Other times, you are Moses. Our roles are all different, at various times, in specific situations.

We must lift the rod above us, calling on God’s intervention as the spiritual battle ensues. But we can’t do it alone. We need those in our lives who will stand by our side, rejoice in the victories, pray for the strength and hold our arms when we cannot make it on our own.

Today, I feel like I am Moses and I am thankful for the friends who “hold up my arms” in ministry. Tomorrow I will look for the opportunity to be an Aaron or a Hur for one who needs my support.

Either way, I am part of the victory that comes when we raise our hands to the sky and ask for God’s power to be unleashed.

(Larry and Linda Kloster sponsor this column.)

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