Many years ago one of my daughters was relieved in Sunday School to hear a story about girls. She had listened for years to the history of heroes and warriors, kings and prophets. Women were rarely the main characters. Then I told her about the battle with the Amalekites, and how Moses needed support. As long as his arms were raised up to God, Joshua and his army prevailed. But when his arms became heavy, and drooped, the Amalekites had the upper hand. 

 

"Moses sat down on a big stone, and Aaron held up one hand, while Hur held up the other. That way he could keep them uplifted until the going down of the sun."

 

She smiled. 

 

"Aaron. Finally a girl." I paused. Looking at her hopeful face I broke the news. 

 

"I know your friend is Erin, but this Aaron is a man. Sorry."

 

She shrugged.

 

"Oh well. At least Hur is a girl." 

 

How could I disappoint her? 

 

"Actually Hur is a man too." She burst into tears. 

 

I listened to a podcast about the meaning of the story. The speaker described the details which were fascinating. Aaron is the high priest, and symbolizes the body of knowledge that holds us up when life pushes down. Hur is indicative of our freedom, which is what propels us from a faith in God that is borrowed from our parents to one that we have chosen for ourselves. Sitting squarely on a stone means resting our decisions on something as solid as say the Ten Commandments. Which were also carved on stone. The speaker pointed out that when Moses was looking skyward, he could focus his trust in a way that escapes us when we are burdened with earthly concerns. Down in the valley, Joshua was fighting the battle, and he did not need Moses to keep watch. The name Joshua means the same thing as Jesus, and the reality is that He fights our battles for us. What remains for us to do is to sustain our trust, and keep our eyes on heaven. 

 

Near the end of this insightful episode the speaker admitted that he too struggles.

 

"I fail at these battles for a living."

 

He may have been alluding to the way his own internal battles keep his ministry genuine. But it also spoke to me about how it is in accepting our own weakness that we step into eternal life.