Exodus 17:9-12 NIV
“Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” 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.”
The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites in Rephidim. Moses told Joshua to get ready for the battle. Moses went up the hill to pray to God with the staff of God in his hands. The staff of God was very special to Moses. When God called Moses to go to see Pharaoh, Moses asked for signs. Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied.”
(Exodus 4:2 NIV) “But take this staff in your hand so you can perform the signs with it.” (Exodus 4:17 NIV) “And he took the staff of God in his hand.” (Exodus 4:20 NIV) This was the staff which Moses used to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and crossed the Red Sea. “Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.” (Exodus 14:16 NIV) Moses used his staff to demonstrate the power of God and to perform miracles, his staff became the staff of God.
“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.” (17:10b-11) Moses held up his hands to pray to God, the Israelites were winning. In order to keep Moses’ hands up. “Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.” (17:12b) To the end, The Israelites won the battle with the Amalekites.
In this passage, we are reminded in two areas:
1) When ordinary people are willing to be used by God, they will demonstrate the power and action of God. People will experience and will be blessed. The ordinary staff of Moses became the staff of God which performed miracles.
2) To be successful and victory, team work is very important. Some work at the front line, some pray, some watch for one another, some as support. In diversity we have unity. Joshua lead the army in the battle ground; Moses held up his hands to pray; when Moses was tired, Aaron and Hur helped him and supported him to keep his hands up. They all experienced the power of prayer together.
Whenever we are willing to serve the Lord, we will be strengthened by God, became the staff of God. We are not fighting the battle alone, God is with us and we have team to work together. Just do whatever is pleasing to God, to fully experience the power of God.