It’s already been a long summer.
My six-year-old son James is out of his routine and out of sorts. For a week he even went through a phase of getting up before dawn, only wearing green shirts, and would melt down when we asked if he wanted to swing (both in our backyard and at the park). Of course, it was also the week my husband was out of town. I felt alone and exhausted.
In Exodus we read about another man who was fighting a hard battle and needed help from others. Moses had led the Israelites out of Egypt and through the Red Sea. They weren’t a happy bunch though, constantly grumbling and demanding more from Moses. “Why did you bring us out of Egypt to kill us?” they asked when hungry or thirsty.
We’ve been on some pretty long road trips and know what it’s like to travel when we’re all hungry or thirsty. Multiply that by the up to one million people we believe Moses was leading on this off-road trip, and you can imagine that if he could have pulled that car over and left them at the next rest stop, he would have.
Not only were his own people grumbling against him, but Amalek came to fight with Israel. Moses appointed Joshua and his men to go into battle. Moses stood on the top of a hill to watch, with the staff of God in his hand. Exodus 17:11 says, “Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed.” Moses was already weary. And now he had the key to the battle in his hands—his very tired hands.
We’ve all felt that burden of responsibility, haven’t we? Thinking if we don’t make that phone call, or drive to that therapy session, or research that new medicine it would never happen. The battle would be lost.
As the battle dragged on, Moses needed help. “But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun” (Exod. 17:12). Moses still did his job—he held up the staff—but he did it with help. He drew on the strength of others to accomplish the goal.
During our long week with my husband out of town, I had to rely on the help of others. I had to be honest about how I felt and the fact I couldn’t do it all on my own. And just as God brought Moses friends to hold him up, God brought friends and family members to help me.
Who helps you when you are weary? A spouse or other family member? A therapist or teacher? A friend? Give thanks to God for that person today.
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