Tag: bible

Do you need an Aaron or Hur today???

photo credit: wayneforte.com

There’s an interesting battle scene in the Bible. To give some background…

An old man — the one credited with leading the nation of Israel out of their slavery in Egypt — has faced numerous challenges with those in his charge. There are quite a few of them — 600,000 men and an additional who-knows-exactly-how-many women and children! They had already seen some incredible things happen, like when God literally parted the Red Sea so that they could walk through on the dry riverbed — and then as those same waters flowed back, obliterating their pursuers.

This huge entourage then started walking through rough, desert terrain. For three days they couldn’t find any water, which is a HUGE problem in a desert, especially with so many people! Finally, they found some water — but it was bitter and so unable to be drunk. The people grumbled. In all honesty, I think I would have, too! Their leader cried out to God — and then another unlikely, incredible thing happened: he took a piece of wood, threw it into the water, and the water became sweet and able to be drunk!

Less than two weeks later they had another grumbling session, this time about the food (or lack thereof). They reminisced that life had been better before. “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt!” they complained. “There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you [addressing their leader Moses and his sidekick Aaron] have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”

Once again, God provided for their needs in a most unusual, unique way: every day, for the next forty years, they would have sufficient nourishment. But only enough for one day at a time. If they tried to hoard their allotment it would be full of maggots and stink the following day. Yuck.

After this, they had yet another setback: no water… again! They grumbled, quarreled with their leaders, and asked, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?” This time, their leader Moses took the very same staff that he had used previously when parting the waters of the Red Sea and hit a rock, which then gushed forth water.

The next challenge they faced was being attacked by a hostile nation. Oh, brother. As if their journey to what was called “the Promised Land” hadn’t already been difficult! This brings us to the interesting battle scene mentioned at the beginning… the leader (Moses) went to the top of a hill with his brother Aaron and Hur (someone we don’t know a whole lot about). Moses held the staff (yep, same one) in his hands, and as long as his hands were UP, the Israelites were winning. But whenever he LOWERED his hands, the enemy was winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him so that he could sit down. Then, Aaron and Hur — one on one side of Moses and the other on the other — held his hands up. The result was that his hands remained steady until sunset. And the Israelites won the battle.

Hmm… I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been in that kind of battle. However, there have been times when the challenges and pressures of life have been intense. Overwhelming. Times of feeling unsure of what to do next, how to respond to a problem, how to deal with a comment or criticism, how to not give up when everything looks hopeless.

It’s at times like this that I — we! — need an Aaron or Hur. Someone to be there with us in whatever we’re facing. Someone who may not even say anything, but just by their presence communicates a steadiness, strength that we desperately need. Someone who lifts us up so that we don’t grow weary or give up.

In addition, those in the thick of the battle are unable to see the big picture. They don’t have the vantage point of being up on the hill, so to speak (like Moses, Aaron, and Hur). God wisely instructed Moses to write on a scroll what had happened — ESPECIALLY for Joshua, who was the one on the ground waging the battle. He wanted to make sure Joshua knew and remembered what had happened that day.

That’s another reason we need one another… to remember the victories, the lessons learned, and yes, even the challenges themselves. The good, the bad, and the ugly are the very things God uses — IS USING — in our lives to make us the people we are today and will be tomorrow.

Do you need an Aaron or Hur today? Or could you be that for someone else? As we become more attentive to others in our spheres of influence, more attentive to what is happening in and around us, may that be the catalyst that enables us to have joy in the journey of this things called “Life!”

* You can read more about this story in the Old Testament of the Bible, the book of Exodus, chapters 13-17.

Last words… lasting words

photo credit: https://velocitychurch.life

I’m not sure what prompted the reminiscing… but earlier this week I started thinking about words or phrases I associate with certain people:

  • Things just keep perking along! (my mom — whenever we would call to check in on her)
  • I can put you in the canoe and give you oars… but you have to do the paddling. (my dad — as I left home after graduating from university for a job on the other side of America)
  • Blameless??? What does “blameless” look like??? (Nicole K. — during a Bible study years ago)
  • You can’t be your husband’s Holy Spirit! (Linda D. — in a study on marriage when I was a relatively young bride)
  • “Praise the Lord!” is a command… so tell God what you’re praising Him for! (Myrna A. — at a conference for college students at my first job)
  • We can’t live in a “what if” world. (my husband — shortly after we got married)
  • Only two things last forever: God’s Word and man’s soul. We want to invest our lives in those things. (my husband again — when we were newlyweds)
  • Sometimes you just need a good cry. (my sister — when we were teenagers)

Thinking of those words and phrases brought to mind some important things that Jesus said…

We’re entering into what is often referred to as Holy Week: the period of time encompassing when Jesus triumphantly entered into Jerusalem riding a donkey (Palm Sunday), the Last Supper (when He celebrated the Passover meal with His disciples and then was betrayed by one of them), the Crucifixion (what is referred to as Good Friday), and then Easter (the day He was resurrected from the dead). Significant events. And so what He had to say during that period — His last words — is vitally important for those of us who are Christ followers.

Last words… lasting words.

Imagine what it would be like for YOU if you knew you only had a limited amount of time — just a few days — with those with whom you’re closest. How would knowing that impact what you would say? do?

Jesus gathered those He was closest to — His twelve disciples — for a meal. That’s not so unusual. But what He did during the meal was VERY unusual. Shocking even. He assumed the role of a servant and began to wash the feet of His followers. In that day and that culture, when walking was the main mode of transportation and wearing sandals the preferred footwear, a person’s feet would get dusty and sweaty when walking from Point A to Point B. The lowliest of jobs was that of the servant who would be tasked with washing the feet of those entering one’s home.

Just a few days before, Jesus had been hailed as a king. Now… He was washing feet. By doing this, He was communicating a powerful message to the twelve and subsequently to us: we who have placed our faith, our trust in Jesus have been totally washed/made clean. But periodically, we need to have our feet washed… to be cleansed of the sins that creep into our lives.

His actions also spoke loudly of what it means to be a leader… by being a servant. Being willing to stoop down, be inconvenienced. Being willing to be misunderstood.

Another thing Jesus did during His last days was pray for His followers — both those who were physically present with Him and those of us who now are embracing Him as our Saviour. His final plea was that we would be unified and reflect His love to the world in which we live.

I do not ask for these only [the twelve who were present], but also for those who will believe in Me through their word [us], that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.

Jesus in John 17: 20-22

There were other last words… lasting words that Jesus shared those final days (you can read them in the New Testament: John chapters 13-17). But for now, I’m focusing on and mulling over these two examples and how they impact my life: being a servant and living in harmony with others/reflecting God’s love to those in my sphere of influence.

Take time this next week to reflect on who Jesus is and what difference He makes in your life. And may we encourage one another to heed those last words… lasting words. By doing so, may we have joy in the journey of this thing called “Life!”