May I Help You With That?

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2 NIV

Moses wondered how he could keep going. God had shown up in miraculous ways for Moses and the Israelites. With God’s help, Moses had performed signs and wonders before Pharaoh, led the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt, crossed the Red Sea on dry land, and provided manna, quail and water in a barren wilderness.

Would this current battle overpower Moses? The burning muscles in his arms and his trembling legs threatened to give way when his brother (Aaron) and his friend (Hur) brought a stone for Moses to sit on. Though a welcome reprieve, it wasn’t enough. Moses’ weary hands—holding the staff of God above his head—began to fall.

The Amalekites gained the upper hand in battle over the Israelites whenever Moses lowered his hands. How would God deliver the Israelites this time? Moses then felt the strength of hands on each of his hands, Aaron on one side and Hur on the other. Solomon would pen some 600 years later a cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12). With the cord of Moses, Aaron and Hur intertwined, the Israelites overpowered the Amalekites.

To win this battle, recorded in Exodus 17, God could have easily given Moses supernatural strength, but He didn’t. So often I want God to step in and fix my problems in a snap. It usually doesn’t work that way.

God’s plan involved Moses, Aaron, Hur and the Israelites all joining together to overcome. That is His plan for us as well. If one part [of the body of Christ] suffers, every part suffers with it (I Corinthians 12:26). We are not meant to carry our burdens alone but with the help of fellow believers.

Whom can you support today? Or whom can you invite into your struggle?

Lord, open our eyes to the hurting people around us and show us how to help.

Terri Vardeman