EXODUS 17:11-12: And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he
let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put
it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the
other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
Few things of importance come easy. Noah Webster worked 36 years on his dictionary, while Gibbon
labored 26 years on his Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. When Milton was writing Paradise
Lost, he rose at 4:00 every morning to begin work. Plato wrote the first sentence of the Republic nine
times before it was acceptable to him.
In the midst of challenging circumstances, it’s wonderful to have friends who will come along and give
their help. Moses experienced such a blessing. The conflict with the Amalekites was a key battle. If
the Israelites were defeated at such an early stage on their journey, they likely would become so
discouraged that they would turn around and go back to Egypt.
Victory was essential, but it wouldn’t come easy. The Israelites were winning only when Moses held
up his hands in prayer. After hours in this position, however, his arms began to tire and defeat
seemed a real possibility.
That was when Aaron and Hur stepped in. With a little help from his friends, Moses was able to keep
his hands held up until the enemy was thoroughly defeated.
Prayer is the key to victory, but it’s also hard work. Often our spirits, if not our hands, grow weary and
we face the potential of defeat. That’s when we need other believers like Aaron and Hur to step in and
lend their strength to our efforts. Praying with friends gives us renewed vigor.
Be sensitive to the opportunities to respond as Aaron and Hur did. Maybe there is someone today
who needs you to lend your prayers to his efforts. God will lead you to that person; just make yourself
available. Your strength may be essential for his victory.
VICTORY IS NEVER WON ALONE.