Directed by God, the whole company of Israel moved on by stages from the Wilderness of Sin. They set camp at Rephidim. And there wasn’t a drop of water for the people to drink. The people took Moses to task: “Give us water to drink.” But Moses said, “Why pester me? Why are you testing God?” But the people were thirsty for water there. They complained to Moses, “Why did you take us from Egypt and drag us out here with our children and animals to die of thirst?”
 Moses cried out in prayer to God, “What can I do with these people? Any minute now they’ll kill me!”
 God said to Moses, “Go on out ahead of the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel. Take the staff you used to strike the Nile. And go. I’m going to be present before you there on the rock at Horeb. You are to strike the rock. Water will gush out of it and the people will drink.”
 Moses did what he said, with the elders of Israel right there watching. He named the place Massah (Testing-Place) and Meribah (Quarreling) because of the quarreling of the Israelites and because of their testing of God when they said, “Is God here with us, or not?”
 Amalek came and fought Israel at Rephidim. Moses ordered Joshua: “Select some men for us and go out and fight Amalek. Tomorrow I will take my stand on top of the hill holding God’s staff.”
 Joshua did what Moses ordered in order to fight Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill. It turned out that whenever Moses raised his hands, Israel was winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, Amalek was winning. But Moses’ hands got tired. So they got a stone and set it under him. He sat on it and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on each side. So his hands remained steady until the sun went down. Joshua defeated Amalek and its army in battle.
God please show me who’s hands you want me to hold up when they get tired so that the battle is won.
And please semd people to hold my hands up when I get tired too.
I love the picture of Aaron and Hur holding up Moses’ hands. What an encouragement for the Israelites with the example their leaders working in harmony and supporting one another, surely a model for the church and for us in Dream if ever there was one!
Richard – how I echo that. When you know you are doing something God told you to do but feel so bone weary and then He sends friends to hold your arms up – how amazing it that! And yes open our eyes to those who need our help in thier time of weariness too.
saturday really challenged me about how any balls I am juggling let alone holding – who do I need to look to to join me and who do I need to support “its so hard to see when my eyes are on me”
I have two thoughts that struck me on this:
The first was that I\’m not very good at letting people help hold my arms up.
The second was that the Israelites were asking for water. Not an extra pillow or to have the air conditioning turned up a bit or whatever. They were asking for a basic human need to be met. Moses makes out like they\’re being spoilt brats. To be fair, I\’d be pretty thirsty in the desert. Interestingly God doesn\’t make any judgement remark, He just meets their need.
For me the key is finding people I trust to hold my arms up.
I’m struck by what a bunch of moaners the Israelites were…but then the realisation hits me that I can be just as bad…and everytime God provides…just what we need.
How often do we get tired when we are doing what God wants us to do? And when we get like that how easy is it to give up? Probably too easy. How often do I allow others to help me… not a lot. Sometimes my pride takes over and it all ends up being in my stength and not Gods. How often do I see those times when God has provided for me?
I’d love my hands to be held up. But am doubt- and fearful that THEY let go when the wind picks up and becomes a storm in my face!
that’s a really honest comment. I guess trust is the toughest thing for lots of us. I know it is for me.
Real trust means there’s no plan B, i.e. I will suffer if they let me down – ouch!
I am with everyone else at being reminded as to how much can be done when there is adequate and proper support, especially in times of draining weariness. However, what really grabbed me was the opening couple of verses. “Directed by God, the whole company of Israel moved on by stages from the Wilderness of Sin. ”
We are going through a lot of change and transition at the moment, including relocating our church building and our whole community/parish being regenerated around us. The entire regeneration process will take up to between 5-10 years and people are moving out and moving on into their new homes in stages. As for the church community, we feel strongly directed by God to move on together to the new building but it is a slow, arduous and painstaking process. The possibility of us moving on by stages together is an encouraging one. It can also be a very tiring process for the leaders who are involved in the negotiating/transitioning process, and there will be times when they will need someone to “raise their arms” while they rest. Hopefully, directed by God, supporting each other, we as a community of believers will move on by stages to a time of hope and growth.