Hands Up

“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  

Some might call it a weird way to win.

When the fierce and feisty Amalekites marched against the fresh-from-Egypt Israelites, Joshua grabbed a group of ex-slaves and went to war. There was no way they could win, should win, or would win unless assistance arrived from elsewhere, and help came through Moses’ hands. “As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning”(Ex 17:11).  

Since holding the staff high was hard to do alone, God sent friends for support and 

strength.  As a tired and trembling Moses sat on a stone, “Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset”(Ex 7:12).  At the end of the day, the Israelites were victorious, the Amalekites were vanquished, and God gave very specific instructions. “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it”(Ex 17:14).

In the midst of the battle, surrounded by the clash of swords and the fight for life, Joshua couldn’t focus on the scene at the top of the hill.  He didn’t know how the height of Moses’ hands had made such a decisive difference.  He wasn’t aware of the crucial aid Moses had received from faithful friends.  He just knew that somehow his army had won.  But God wanted him to know exactly how and exactly why.

Why?  Because in the decades ahead Joshua would need to know what God wants us to know—that He is bigger than any foe, stronger than any situation, and in control of every circumstance.  When we think we can’t go on, He will strengthen us, support us, and surround us. When we’re tired and weak, He will send friends to stand by us, sit with us, and lift us up.  And at the end of the day, God will work His will through His people in His way—even if those ways might seem a bit weird.

And that’s the best news any soldier could ever receive.  Hands down.

No, hands up!