Saturday, May 7, 2016

Holding Up The Hands Of Others

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.” Exodus 17:8-13

By the word of the Lord, Moses had commanded Joshua to go and fight the Amalekites. Moses promised Joshua that he would stand at the top of the hill with his staff and hands raised to the Almighty God. When Moses had his hands lifted, the Israelites were winning, but the very second Moses grew tired and lowered his hands, the Amalekites began to win. When Aaron and Hur saw that Moses was struggling to hold his hands up any longer, they came, one one each side and held up his hands steady till sunset, until a complete victory over the Amalekites had taken place.



We are no different then Aaron and Hur. We are all called to come alongside those in need and hold up their hands in those challenging moments. More than likely we are not going to be on top of a literal hill holding up the hands of a brother or sister in Christ. So how does this translate to us and our world today? There are several things we need to take into consideration. First, we must recognize that there is a need. Next, we must be available for that person. Lastly, we must be willing to hold up their hands and as long as it takes to see the hand of God move.
Recognize the need
We need to recognize those times when others need  us to come alongside them with our love, devotion and support. Scripture does not say if Moses asked Aaron and Hur to join him in this task of seeking the Lord on this mountain. It just states that they went. I would like to think that they recognized that Moses was in deep distress over the impending battle that they decided to join him for spiritual, emotional and moral support on their own without Moses asking. It is also likely that Moses asked his closest companions in the faith to join him on the mountain because he knew it would be a time that when two or three are gathered in the name of the Lord so He will be there also (Matthew 18:20). Whatever the scenario was, Aaron and Hur recognized the deep need that Moses had in having others surrounding him in this time of vigilant prayer and petitioning before the Lord. We too need to recognize in others those times of need. We must be careful not to assume that their silence means they don’t need others around to hold up their hands. Just because someone does not openly ask for help does not necessarily mean that they are capable of doing it on their own. If it had not been for Aaron and Hur, Moses would have surely lowered his hands in exhaustion and the battle would have been a complete loss for the Israelites. Can we see the importance of needing others in the body of Christ to help hold up our hands from time to time? God sometimes calls us to do the impossible, but He does not call us to do it alone.

Be available
Along with recognizing the need, also comes being available when the need arises. The outcome would have been totally different if Aaron and Hur would have told Moses, “look, we are just too busy to go with you right now, can we take a rain check for next week?” Victory would have never been the portion of the Israelites if Aaron and Hur would have been “too busy.” We need to make sure we are not too busy when the needs of others arise. We need to be available when God is moving and not make excuses for why we can’t hold up the hands of others.

Be willing
We need to be willing to hold up the hands of others for as long as it takes to see the hand of God move in their particular situation. For Aaron and Hur it was all day (until sunset). Please note that not all situations get resolved in one day. It can sometimes take months and even years of holding up the hands of others until we see the Lord move. The key is to not get off the mountain and grow weary in the time of waiting. In the case of Aaron and Hur, they were literally holding up the hands of Moses. More than likely we will not find ourselves on the top of a mountain physically holding up the hands of others toward heaven. (Although, don’t count it out, anything is possible with the Lord.) So, what is this more than likely going to look like for us? The holding up of hands can take on so many different forms. I want to touch on just a couple ways we can hold up the hands of others toward heaven.  

Prayer
Prayer is quite possibly the number one way we can hold up the hands of others. This can take place in a number of different ways. It can be done by ourselves in our prayer closets with no one else around. (Matthew 6:6) It can be done in a group of other believers. (Matthew 18:20) Not everyone feels comfortable sharing their needs to a group. So, we need to also be ready to hold the hands of others up when they just come to us with their needs and begin to share their heart. (James 5:16) So in these moments, embrace them and lead them to the feet of the father in prayer.

Biblical Encouragement
Good old fashioned Biblical encouragement is another area in which we can hold up the hands of others (Hebrews 3:13). We all know what it feels like to walk in a place of discouragement. How many of us would be so grateful for an encouraging word in those moments? I sure would! The people we find ourselves placed around are in no less need of an encouraging word then we are in our times of discouragement. So, what does Biblical encouragement look like, and how do we encourage others? First of all, Biblical encouragement is not simply saying nice things to or about someone (AKA - flattery). It does not merely point out a person’s strengths. Biblical encouragement does not focus on the person and how they are going to get through their situation. Here is what Biblical encouragement does. It points out God’s strengths. It points the person to the nature and character of God the Father. Biblical encouragement focuses on God and His faithfulness. It takes the focus off of the person and their trials and puts their focus on God and His faithfulness. Our job of encouraging is not to make the other person feel better. Our job of encouraging is to put their eyes back on the one who is the author and perfecter of their faith (Hebrews 12:2). Biblical encouragement does not preach at them, it simply refocuses their attentions to where it truly belongs, on Jesus.    

Support
Sometimes Biblical encouragement says nothing at all. Romans 12:15 tells us to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. We can hold up the hands of others by simply being a support to them in their times of deep joy and sorrow. We do not need to have all the answers and right words to say. We just need to point others to the one who does have all the answers, who is able to bring comfort to the deepest sorrows and hurts,  our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Serving with love and compassion
Serving others with the love and compassion of Jesus Christ is yet another way we can hold up the hands of others. Jesus Christ is our ultimate example of a servant. He did not come to this earth to be served, but to serve, and to give up His life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45) Just as He came to serve. He is calling us to do the same. The Lord desires that we serve out of a love and compassion for the other person’s heart, not merely because we feel sorry for them, but because we care for them and because God cares for them. That is where our motivation for service needs to come from, straight from the heart of Jesus Christ Himself!

Dear Lord, I thank you for your example of Aaron and Hur who held up the hands of Moses in his time of need. Help us to be the just like that, to come alongside others and hold up their hands in their times of deep need. Help us to be observant and not miss the times when others need us to hold up their hands. Put a burden in our heart for those around us who need some spiritual support. Help us to persevere with holding up the hands of others for as long as it takes to see you move on their behalf. Help us not to grow weary and frustrated in the time of waiting, but to be an encouragement to those we are trying to support.

For more about this subject see my blog post entitled “Carrying One Another’s Burdens”.

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