Jul 5, 2016
Anne Cetas
Exodus 17:8–16
Aaron and Hur held [Moses’s] hands up—one on one side, one on the other. Exodus 17:12
Coming Alongside
Her thirty classmates and their parents watched as Mi’Asya nervously
walked to the podium to speak at her fifth grade graduation ceremony.
When the principal adjusted the microphone to Mi’Asya’s height, she
turned her back to the microphone and the audience. The crowd whispered
words of encouragement: “Come on, honey, you can do it.” But she didn’t
budge. Then a classmate walked to the front and stood by her side. With
the principal on one side of Mi’Asya and her friend on the other, the
three read her speech together. What a beautiful example of support!
Moses needed help and support in the middle of a battle with the
Amalekites (Ex. 17:10–16). “As long as Moses held up his hands [with the
staff of God in his hands], the Israelites were winning, but whenever
he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning” (v. 11). When Aaron
and Hur saw what was happening, they stood beside Moses, “one on one
side, one on the other,” and supported his arms when he grew tired. With
their support, victory came by sunset.
We all need the support
of one another. As brothers and sisters in the family of God, we have so
many opportunities to encourage one another on our shared journey of
faith. And God is right here in our midst giving us His grace to do
that.
Who could you help today? Or do you need support yourself? Who could you ask?
Hope can be ignited by a spark of encouragement.