"As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning." Exodus 17:11
It seems as if there is a war raging all around us everyday. We're at war with what the media and society deem as politically correct. We're at war with what Hollywood attempts to portray as the new "normal" whenever it comes to family values and marriage. We're at war with clothing companies who want to market clothing to our young daughters that will make them look like they are young adults.
Within our churches, there seems to be battles raging just as fiercely as in the world. We've all heard about one too many pastors who have fallen into some sort of sexual temptation. We are fighting within our own four walls about which social issues should be addressed and how to Biblically address them. And dissension about worship styles remains at an all time high.
On top of all of those wars raging around us, we're faced with our own personal and unique battlefields. It could be the loss of a job, unresolved problems with our spouse or a family member, a sick or aging parent or loved one, a custody battle, or a plethora of other things.
We could literally be fighting in numerous wars or conflicts all at the same time. It can be daunting. It can be exhausting. It can feel sometimes like we finish fighting one battle just in time for another one to begin.
I think we have to look back about thirty-five hundred years to get some good guidance on how we should approach our battles. Just as we feel like we're under attack from all sorts of outside sources, Moses and the Israelites were very literally under attack and they were charged with fighting off the tribal people called the Amalekites.
Moses instructed Joshua to find the best men to wage the attack and he was going to assume his position at the top of the mountain. Moses must have known that the battle wasn't going to be won easily, but he also knew that they weren't fighting their battle in their own strength.
Moses didn't go to the top of the mountain to avoid the bloodshed and the carnage. He went to put His God on display. As Moses stood with God's staff in his hand and with both of his hands lifted high towards the heavens, the Israelites were winning the battle. However, as the battle raged on, Moses became weary, much like you and I do whenever the trials won't seem to quit coming.
His weariness caused his arms to lower. As his arms fell, the Israelites would fall, too. Thankfully, Moses had the help of his brother and another gentlemen to come along side of him and not just lift his spirits, but lift his arms. With his arms lifted once again, the Israelites prospered.
I like to think that Moses' arms lifted high in the sky is a picture of what we should look like whenever we're fighting our battles. I'm sure Moses wasn't up there singing "How Great is Our God" while his hands were raised, but I'm sure he was thinking back to all of the ways God had already delivered them in the past and I think he was praising Him in advance for what He would do for them now.
If you have seen our God fight a battle for you before, then you must face every new battle with victory in mind. Our God is ever faithful and He has been fighting battles for His children since the beginning of time. We must learn how to lift our hands like Moses and praise Him through the storms and wars that we face. We also must walk alongside of those people we love who are growing weary and worn from their trials and help restore praise back into their life. If it takes us physically lifting their arms for them, then that is what we should joyfully do.
If you're breathing right now, then there is bound to be a battle raging somewhere around you. Lift your hands and praise your awesome God in advance for what He's going to do. He will fight for you, with you, and through you. Just get ready . . . our God is victorious!
It seems as if there is a war raging all around us everyday. We're at war with what the media and society deem as politically correct. We're at war with what Hollywood attempts to portray as the new "normal" whenever it comes to family values and marriage. We're at war with clothing companies who want to market clothing to our young daughters that will make them look like they are young adults.
Within our churches, there seems to be battles raging just as fiercely as in the world. We've all heard about one too many pastors who have fallen into some sort of sexual temptation. We are fighting within our own four walls about which social issues should be addressed and how to Biblically address them. And dissension about worship styles remains at an all time high.
On top of all of those wars raging around us, we're faced with our own personal and unique battlefields. It could be the loss of a job, unresolved problems with our spouse or a family member, a sick or aging parent or loved one, a custody battle, or a plethora of other things.
We could literally be fighting in numerous wars or conflicts all at the same time. It can be daunting. It can be exhausting. It can feel sometimes like we finish fighting one battle just in time for another one to begin.
I think we have to look back about thirty-five hundred years to get some good guidance on how we should approach our battles. Just as we feel like we're under attack from all sorts of outside sources, Moses and the Israelites were very literally under attack and they were charged with fighting off the tribal people called the Amalekites.
Moses instructed Joshua to find the best men to wage the attack and he was going to assume his position at the top of the mountain. Moses must have known that the battle wasn't going to be won easily, but he also knew that they weren't fighting their battle in their own strength.
Moses didn't go to the top of the mountain to avoid the bloodshed and the carnage. He went to put His God on display. As Moses stood with God's staff in his hand and with both of his hands lifted high towards the heavens, the Israelites were winning the battle. However, as the battle raged on, Moses became weary, much like you and I do whenever the trials won't seem to quit coming.
His weariness caused his arms to lower. As his arms fell, the Israelites would fall, too. Thankfully, Moses had the help of his brother and another gentlemen to come along side of him and not just lift his spirits, but lift his arms. With his arms lifted once again, the Israelites prospered.
I like to think that Moses' arms lifted high in the sky is a picture of what we should look like whenever we're fighting our battles. I'm sure Moses wasn't up there singing "How Great is Our God" while his hands were raised, but I'm sure he was thinking back to all of the ways God had already delivered them in the past and I think he was praising Him in advance for what He would do for them now.
If you have seen our God fight a battle for you before, then you must face every new battle with victory in mind. Our God is ever faithful and He has been fighting battles for His children since the beginning of time. We must learn how to lift our hands like Moses and praise Him through the storms and wars that we face. We also must walk alongside of those people we love who are growing weary and worn from their trials and help restore praise back into their life. If it takes us physically lifting their arms for them, then that is what we should joyfully do.
If you're breathing right now, then there is bound to be a battle raging somewhere around you. Lift your hands and praise your awesome God in advance for what He's going to do. He will fight for you, with you, and through you. Just get ready . . . our God is victorious!
Thank you
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! Keep them hands lifted high :)
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