Strengthen the Hands

       His hand was aching and even though he switched the staff from hand to hand, he couldn’t help but feel the tension and cramps in the muscles of his shoulders as the rest of his body struggled with exhaustion.  Though he’d like to put the thing down for a bit, it caused a far bigger problem to do so.  This was a life and death matter!  As Moses held that staff up, his people would prevail in the war, but when he lowered it, the enemy prevailed.  Knowing this meant the death of more of his brothers must have put a huge mental and emotional strain on him as well.

And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.  Ex. 17:9-12

       It doesn’t record how long the battle took only that it went until sundown, so it could have been hours or almost the entire day!  At one point, Moses got tired and couldn’t keep the staff up any longer on his own, but the battle was not finished.  Could God have given Moses supernatural endurance, or helped him hold it longer?  Yes, but obviously He didn’t want to… because He didn’t.  So what was Moses to do?  Aaron and Hur, who climbed the hill with him, placed a stone as a seat and then stood on either side of Moses to help support his weary hands. 

       A lot of times we try to keep going under the strains and pressure of life, and we wonder why it’s so difficult, we feel like we aren’t going to make it and God feels so far away.  Could it be that we have too much pride to ask for assistance or support from others?  I remember being in the worst time of my life and calling my friends daily just to survive until the next day.  I also asked anyone willing- to pray for us.  These people helped me stay sane and reminded me that I am not alone.  Maybe they didn’t physically hold up my hands but they surely kept up the rest of me!

       In the same regard, we should be active in helping others to endure.  That means we should be willing to strengthen our brothers and sisters by whatever means available.  Prayers are good but are sometimes used as an easy way out. “Well, I prayed for them didn’t I?”  Words of encouragement can help, but I think sometimes just listening is the best thing we can do for someone.  Our time is perhaps the hardest to give up because we have ‘so many more important things to do’, and we just don’t want to take the time to listen, especially time and again.

       How long should we support one another? (support- to sustain; to keep from fainting or sinking; to support the courage or spirits)  Well, Aaron and Hur supported Moses until the enemy was overthrown; in other words, as long as it took.  Make no mistake, I’m not saying we should allow a person to continue wallowing in self pity and such, but not all problems are resolved in one or two sittings.  We need to stand together and when hands start trembling under the weight of this life, stand together and stay the hands!

His First Letter

       I can’t remember how old he was, but I remember the look on my son’s face when he received his very first letter mailed to our house in his name.  His eyes were big green orbs exploding with light and his smile reached from ear to ear as he grasped for the letter in my hand.  He was extremely excited and almost completely destroyed the card in his enthusiasm to open it.  Today, he still has his very first piece of mail, a birthday card from Grandma.

       When I was in the store the other day buying a birthday card for my Mom, I was speaking to a lady about how I’d almost forgotten to pick one up.  She was telling me how her Mom insisted her card be sent by mail even though they live in the same neighbourhood- and get there in time for her birthday… never late!  Some people might consider that fussy or spoiled (like me at first) but in reality I guess it is more special that way, and what’s wrong with making another person feel special- like my son with his birthday card.

       Making someone feel special doesn’t have to cost a lot, in fact, it may not cost any money at all!  A few ideas to make someone feel special: A note of encouragement perhaps even sent by mail, a photo they might enjoy, a few minutes of conversation when they look all alone, a hug just because, an offer to go for coffee, a balloon tied to their car, a silly song left on their answering machine, a phone call to see how they are doing.  There are many things we can do to let someone know they are important to this life. 

       Life is tough; almost all of us have been through difficult trials, so imagine how some encouragement, love or support could make all the difference in how, or if, a person makes it through.  There are times I chide myself for not encouraging more people.  There are a sea of faces that walk by me everyday, and so few I am able to encourage, make them feel special and valuable even though they are.  But, I’m going to try harder.

       Jesus always treated the common man with love, compassion and respect.  He never looked down on them for their flaws, didn’t bash them for their sins, He didn’t walk to the other side of the road to avoid them, or run from providing for them.  He didn’t talk about them behind their backs or laugh at them privately with His friends.  Whether they were considered important in society or of no importance at all, Jesus treated them with love and open arms.  He made the feel special and valuable.

       This is one area where we can easily follow in Jesus’ footsteps.  It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money or time, (although it can if we want it to) still, we can bring a smile to someone’s day, and maybe even shine some light in their dark places.  Many of us say we want to be like Jesus.  Well, this is an easy way we can show it!

How Much Does Jesus Love You/ Me?

       Jesus didn’t defend Himself against the false witnesses. (Mt. 26:63) He could have done so as He proved more than once that He could stand against the Jewish leaders’ messed up theology like the time they tried to trap Him over the woman caught in adultery. (Jn. 8:3-9)

       Jesus didn’t try to prove who He was using scripture like He could have.  He could have proven His royal line. (Mt. 1; Lk. 3)  He could have proven the prophecies concerning His birth were all true.  He could have shown how all the scriptures lined up with His life, because He knew them all though He had never studied with the rabbis. (Jn. 7:15)

       Jesus didn’t disappear through the crowd like He did other times. (Jn. 8:59; 10:39)  If He did it twice before, I’m sure He could have done it again on His last day.

       Jesus didn’t call out for legions of angels to help Him as He could. (Mt. 26:53) He said so in the garden to Peter who had just cut off the scribe’s ear.  In other words, He could have stopped the arrest proceedings, trial or sentence anytime He wanted.

       No one took Jesus’ life; He laid it down, freely. (Jn. 10:18; 1Jn. 3:16) Like I said, He could have escaped or called angels in to save Him, but He didn’t.  I think the most difficult part for me would have been dying as a criminal when I was innocent, yet Jesus allowed that to happen to Him.

       Jesus endured beatings and humiliation.  He suffered torture with blood pouring out of most parts of His body.  He allowed His character to be questioned and His life to be mocked.  All of this was endured as an innocent man. (1Pt. 2:22)

       Jesus gave up His life so we could live. (Mt. 20:28; Gal. 1:4) He bore our sins on the cross (1Pt. 2:24; 2Cor. 5:21) and redeemed us from the curse of the law. (Gal. 3:13) Now we can have eternal life with Him. (Rom. 6:23) 

       Would you take another man’s griefs and sorrows?  Would you be despised, rejected, grieved, stricken, smitten, afflicted, wounded, bruised, chastised, whipped, and oppressed for him?  Would you bear another man’s guilt and receive his death sentence?  Jesus did (Is. 53:1-8) all for our sin.

How much does Jesus love us?

More than we can ever understand.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Rom. 5:8

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Jn. 3:16