Friday 5/02/14
In a well-known historical account in the 17th Chapter of Exodus, Moses was going through a very difficult trial as He led God’s people toward their promised land. Since they were traveling through a desert place, no water was available and, once more, Moses had to put up with the people’s grumbling and complaining. As before, the Lord again provided for them giving them the water they needed. He instructed Moses to use the same staff he had used before to perform the Lord’s wonders to strike the rock at Mount Sinai and when he did, water gushed out freely. If Moses’s troubles weren’t enough, the Amalekites came to fight against God’s people. Moses commanded Joshua to lead his men against them and while the battle was going on, he climbed up to the top of a nearby hill accompanied by his brother Aaron and a man named Hur. The reason he did this was to raise up the Lord’s staff while the battle was going on below. After a while, however, Moses’ arms got tired and dropped to his side and when this happened the Amalekites got the upper hand in the battle. Sensing this, Aaron and Hur found a large stone where Moses could sit down and then they held his hands up, one on each side. They continued holding his hands up until the battle was won.
This story reminds me of the value of faithful friends, those who help and hold us up as we fight our daily battles. These are they which will “tell it like it is” when necessary. Proverbs 27:6 says: Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. In my own life, I have been blessed with friends such as these. One ex-coworker, when sensing I was behaving like the old Joe, would quickly call me from a distance saying, “Watch it Sam.” Although that’s my middle name, he knew when I heard that name I would understand that I was not acting like the new Joe is Christ. Another special friend, whom I would see at the gym constantly, would always keep me accountable. We understood each other and I trust that I too held him accountable. Today, I am still blessed to have friends in my life such as these, three of them in particular.
Do you have friends like these? I sincerely believe that if you don’t, it won’t be long until you do, especially if you become this type of friend yourself.
Memory verse for the week: (1 John 5:4) for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
