Prevailing Prayer

While in church today we had a family that was leaving, moving to Colorado Springs, and Dave had them come up front so we could pray for them. As we always do on such occasions the congregation holds out a hand toward them while the pastor offers his prayer and blessing.

As we were doing this today my thoughts turned to the Scripture where Moses holds out his hands toward the armies of Israel as they are in battle. While his hands holding the staff are extended victory belongs to the Israelites but when he lets his hands relax the tide turns the other way. Aaron and Hur then help support Moses's hands until the battle is won.

Here is the account from Exodus 17: 8-13

Then Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, "Choose men for us, go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand."

Joshua did as Moses told him and fought against Amalek; and Moses, Arron and Hur went up to the top of the hill. So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed.

But Moses hands were heavy. They they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Arron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set.

So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek with the edge of the sword. 

Feeling that this was something I should write about I Googled for the Scripture reference this afternoon, then checked the Matthew Henry commentary, and then almost got chills while reading the commentary.

Henry points out that there are two types of battles going on here. One is in the physical and one is in the spiritual and the success of the overall war depends of what is being done in the spiritual.

There are two generals for the battle on the side of Israel. One is Moses who with God is at the center of most of what is happening in the book of Exodus, and the other is Joshua, probably about 45 years old at this time, in his first appearance in Exodus.

There are two weapons of warfare. One is the sword used by Joshua and his army and the other is the staff held up by Moses with the aid of Aaron and Hur.

You would think that the hands that would grow weary first would be the ones welding the swords. And indeed without the prayer support by Moses and then aided by his team that would have been the case. But like every spiritual battle I have been involved in, and I'm sure you have found as well, it was Moses hands holding up the staff in prayer that grew weary first.

Our lesson here is that although we will grow weary when praying for victory in the battles that life presents we need to be encouraged to press on in prayer. We grow weary because prayer is doing real battle in the spiritual. I now understand that my weariness should be encouraging because this indicates that my prayer will bring about real victories in the physical.

And then, who cannot notice that Moses was not able to press on by himself. On one side was Aaron, Moses brother, who spoke for him before Pharaoh, who messed up big time when Moses was gone for a long time on Mt. Sinai and caved into the nation's request to make for them a golden idol, but who became head of the priestly tribe of Israel. On the other side was Hur, someone who only appears in Scripture this one time.

Aaron and Hur supported Moses. They brought a stone so he could sit but still view the battle and they held his hands up so those hands would remain steady. Perhaps in our lives we will have a spouse or other family, a close friend or people from our church who will step in and offer us encouragement and rest.

May the Lord provide us with these helpers as well as the Joshua's who will fight for us while we support them with prevailing prayer.

Ecclesiastes 11 & 12

The Book of Ecclesiastes has so many wonderful images and is often quoted. The verses about there being a season, a time for every purpose under heaven was one of the readings at Jackie and my wedding.

What I like about reading poetry inspired by Scripture is that it both brings back to us those familiar images (if indeed we are familiar with the Bible) but it also presents the Word in a slightly different light. Hopefully if the poem is true to Word it may help us better understand the passage.

This is inspired by the last two chapters in Ecclesiastes.

Ecclesiastes 11 & 12

As I grow old these thought persist
while casting bread on water's deep
all will come back in many days
it will be found, it will be found

I'll split my blessings seven times
and if I need then share them eight
for I don't know what lies ahead
some will remain, some will remain

When clouds are full they pour out rain
just as the wind blows where it wants
this shows me that the harvest comes
but I must plant, but I must reap

New sun will shine with pleasant light
but just as sure the night arrives
I praised those days when I was young
for darkness comes, for darkness comes

There was not need to store up grief
or foster anger deep in my heart
I knew that death comes way too soon
all will be judged, all will be judged

Before the panes of glass grow dim
and joy in life will fly away
I'll think of Him who made all things
He keeps me now, He'll keep me then

And though my tree will lose white blooms
these ears and eyes and limbs grow weak
before the silver cord gets sliced
I'll think of Him, I'll think of Him

Dust returns to where it came
the spirit flies to Him above
all men should fear Creator Lord
He sees it all, He sees it all

Who Can Separate

This is inspired by one of my most favorite Bible verses which is found in the 8th chapter of Romans.

Who Can Separate

Will it be depths too deep to climb
or heights too high to see
might there arise dark angel hoards
or principalities
when trials come as come they must
and persecution pains
if we are naked without food
and nothing left to gain
then if the sword puts us to death
our dear ones led to slaughter
and hope seems lost for everyone
including sons and daughter
still we are more than conquerors
through Him whose love is poured
cause nothing can ever separate us
from Jesus Christ our Lord

My Father-In-Law

Harry had an automatic bible
that opened to what ever Scripture he needed
and that was a useful tool
because there was no such thing
as a quick answer to a simple question

He never gave me a nice photograph
showing what I wanted to see
because together we first had to start
somewhere back in Genesis
and muck our way forward

An hour or two later
foundation laid, framed in
dry wall up and completely wired
lights would turn on
and I could see the beauty of the structure

After Harry's heart stopped
and he took that short step forward
I asked if I might have his automatic bible
he must have taken the battery with him
took me years to rewire mine