Are You A Hur?

The Amalekites Defeated

"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 17:10-13

I know not very many people enjoy reading Old Testament stories but just remember when you do read it, it will always point you to Jesus and the way he wants for us to live our lives, even though most times it is not always apparent.

As in any OT story, this teaching will be long and you might be tempted to quit reading, but if you keep on it, the Lord may just reveal something for you.

In this story the Amalekites attacked the Israelites and so Moses told Joshua to lead the charge and fight back. The narrative says that as Joshua and his men were fighting in the battlefield, Moses was raising his arms, praising and praying to the Lord for victory. When his hands were up, they were winning, but when he lowered his arms because he was tired, the enemy was winning.

When his brother Aaron noticed this, he and Hur (a little known bible personality) held up the arms of Moses, one on the left and one on the right. They also placed a stone under him to sit on. Genius.

The story goes on to say that the fighting went on the whole day. It reveals to us that Moses who was lifting his fighting men up in prayer was in fact getting tired -- meaning praying is not something to take for granted, it isn't easy and it doesn't come easy -- even the Big 3 -- Peter, James and John flunked this test in the garden of Gethsemane. Because when we pray, we do real ministry. And in Moses' defense, it was a very long fight.

And it does tell us that being tired is a cause to stop praying. And we do that too, we stop praying for this reason and for several other reasons.

But as with Moses, it is the same with us, halting our prayers will also cause our brothers and sisters to start losing their battles, as with our own battles. Let us be reminded of that when we are tempted to quit praying and when we stop lifting our brothers and sisters in Christ (and our prayer partners and our loved ones who still don't know the Lord). And for us doing ministry in the church, let us lift up those who pray for and those who lead over us. Theirs is a heavier burden.

It is surprising to know that there was no mention of Joshua and his fighting men or even of Aaron and little known Hur growing tired.

They all fought and did their assigned tasks until sunset and they won. The Lord blessed and answered the prayers of their leader. The tireless and unwavering support of his team ensured that Joshua and his men won their battle. So whoever we see ourselves in this scenario, the Lord is showing us that if we do that task assigned to us and trust in the Lord then we shall see our victory soon enough. The bible is full of Hurs and many nameless and unknown heroes, but like anywhere else, victory is won not only because we are giants of faith (like Abraham, Joseph or David, Hebrews 11) but because of the Hurs, praying for one another, working together and doing what the Lord has entrusted us to do.