From Warrior to Caregiver

“Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.

So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.“

Exodus 17:8-13

I have been reading through the Bible this year as my own personal commitment and let me tell you, if you have never done so, I would highly recommend it! I have done Bible studies before on specific topics and jumped around the Scriptures studying, but to sit down and read God’s love letter to us, the full story, one chapter at a time, it is something you just have to experience for yourself. God shows up! In ways I have never experienced Him before.

This passage was many days ago in my reading and I have been praying over it and thinking on it since then. I have read some commentaries and even some blogs designated to this recording and every time, I am reminded of how it relates to my situation currently.

I HATE waiting!

Hate is a strong word, but I completely detest waiting. I am probably the least patient person ever. If I procrastinate, that is on my own time, but when I am ready to get something done, nothing and no one need stand in my way! When I have a goal to meet, when inspiration hits, when a project stares me in the face almost to say, I dare you to change me, I am exploding with the idea, it must be done now!

This can be both a positive and negative trait, but for a lot of reasons, it is a negative one because of how it affects my relationships, my priorities, and even my fellowship with God.

Serving in the waiting is something you have to learn and the way you learn it, well, I can tell you only how God is teaching me, and maybe it will sound familiar.

In this passage in Exodus 17, we see the Israelites coming up against their first encounter with an enemy during their journey to the Promise Land of Canaan. Amalek and his people were a brutal nation, often attacking their enemies from behind and slaughtering the women and children first. So, they come upon the Israelites and begin to attack.

I don’t know about you, but the mama bear in me would be fuming and ready to pounce. How dare you try to attack us! I would want in the fight to the death! And that is just what Moses told Joshua to do. God fight with Amalek and on the following day I will join you from the mountaintop.

Joshua was the Warrior! God’s plan and design for him in this situation was to be completely hands on. Fighting in the heat of the battle. Leading the men in war against this ungodly and vicious people who sought to harm the children of God. Such a strong and mighty man, standing out infant of his people as a leader!

Not much more of a spotlight on ministry than this. Standing before the congregation, everyone looking to you for inspiration, finding yourself full of energy and vigor for the fight ahead and killing the enemies of God in a match of the century! But, it is not the position God always has for us at any given time.

Then there was Moses. He was a day behind in the battle. He climbed the mountain above the conflict and raised his hands. As long as his hands were raised, the Israelites prevailed, but as they grew tired and weak and began to lower, Amalek would prevail. We often attribute this position to that of a prayer warrior and we would not be wrong. Moses is a close reflection and foreshadowing of what Jesus would be for us as an intercessor between God and His people. Moses was interceding on behalf of the children of Israel and so long as he continued to lift his hands in prayer, God’s power rested upon them.

When we can’t do, we can pray. Oh, so many times we look at this as a secondary option of service. But, without it, all the strength of Joshua and his men meant nothing against the enemy! It is never a secondary position. It doesn’t always feel as prestigious, but to be the one fixed between God’s working and God’s workman, this position is a beautiful one, but tiring.

And so enters Aaron and Hur. They climbed the mountain with Moses. They followed him and watched him and watched the battle below. Reading between the lines, I’ll bet they were cheering while the people prevailed and there was a lot of boos and nail-biting when it was obvious they were losing. Maybe they had their eyes fixed on the battle below and it took a minute for them to make the connection between Moses’ arms and the results of the battle. Either way, they began to notice.

So, they roll a stone over to him for him to rest on, and each man takes an arm and holds it up. They realized what it was going to take to win this battle and that Moses could not do it alone. In the beginning of the holding, there may not have been much to it. Just standing here, holding up the hands of our leader, watching the warrior take on this evil enemy. I imagine it was quite the view.

But after a while, holding anything can become exhausting. Standing still can be frustrating. Wishing you could assist in any other way than doing what seemed like nothing and letting your mind wander, I don’t know that I would have this kind of patient servitude. But they make it! From morning, as the sun rose, until evening as the sun set, Aaron and Hur held up the arms of Moses and the people won the battle. Looking at it from start to finish, we can see how each one played their part, did it well, and the end result was victory.

But.

What about how that looks in our daily lives? What about when we can’t read start to finish? What about our roles in the work of God? How do we do when our place in God’s work is struggling to hold up the hands and care for the ones who need our help in their part of the work?

My kids are the completely typical children. I tell one to do something and immediately they respond with, what about brother? The long for fairness to the nth degree. There is not a time these days that I am not feeling like a broken record saying, “stay in your lane and worry about yourself”.Do your part faithfully and keep your eyes off of the tasks of others. The part you are playing in this story is just as vital as the others.

oooh…that hits me right in the heart.

I love serving. I love fighting. I love results. I love involvement. I love commitment. I love participating. I want to be involved!

But in this time of my life, it looks very different than what I imagine most days.

I have been a warrior, I have been an intercessor, I have been a leader, but right now, God has called me to be a caregiver. God’s plan for me is in the watching, waiting, carrying, holding, standing, supporting. Had Aaron and Hur not been faithful in their position, could the outcome of the battle have been very different? Likely.

So, as I continue to apologize for my absence, my need to postpone or cancel plans, my inability to show up to things I wish I could attend, I am reminded through this narrative, God has a place for each of His people. Faithfulness looks the same even though the tasks may vary. There will come a day for Moses when he can no longer intercede. Joshua’s day will come when he can no longer battle. Aaron and Hur will not always be there to support. Each one of us will take on different positions. Are we willing to serve in whatever capacity that looks like, faithfully?