The Staff of God in Moses' hands is the prayer in yours

Charlton Heston as Moses

As I was reading Exodus, chapter 17 and meditating on the Word of God, the Holy Spirit put some thoughts in my heart that I want to share here. The chapter talks of two of the many experiences of Moses and the Israelites during their 40 years journey through the desert following their release from slavery under the Pharaoh of Egypt.

We read of a time when the Israelites had been wandering in the desert for a long period and were very, very, thirsty.  There was no water to be found anywhere.  They complained to Moses and grumbled that they were better off in slavery under the Pharaoh.  Exodus 17:3 says, "But tormented by thirst, they continued to complain, "Why did you bring us here? We, our children, and our livestock will all die!"  They were ready to attack Moses and he pleaded with God for water. Then Moses pleaded with the LORD, "They are about to stone me!"  The Lord said to Moses, "Take your shepherd's staff, the one you used when  you struck the water of the Nile.  Then call some of the leaders of Israel and walk on ahead of the people,  I will meet you by the rock at Mount Sinai. Strike the rock. and water will come pouring out.  The the people will be able to drink."  Moses did just as he was told; and as the leaders looked on, water gushed out.

{Just a thought! Would you think Moses was stressed during the times he was leading the Israelites?  He was responsible for an entire nation, mostly unthankful people who grumbled and complained at every opportunity. This was God's chosen servant to whom God himself appeared and spoke directly! This is why in the New Testament, we read time and again, this walk in Christ is a walk of Faith. Refer to Hebrews, chapter 11, for examples of men of great Faith from the old testament.}

The second incident noted in this chapter is the Israelites fight with the army of the Amalek. Moses commanded Joshua, " Call the Israelites to arms, and fight the army of Amalek.  Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand." We read that as long as Moses held up the staff with his hands, the Israelites had the advantage.  But whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites gained the upper hand.  Moses arms finally became too tired to hold up the staff any longer.  So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on.  Then they stood on each side, holding up his hands until sunset.  As a result, Joshua and his troops were able to crush the army of Amalek.  Similarly, we read in Exodus, chapter 14, when Moses and the Israelites were at the Red Sea, he stretched out the staff over the waters of the Red sea and it parted offering them a safe route of escape from the fast approaching Pharaoh's army.

As I was reading the chapter I couldn't help but think back to the time when my grandfather was alive. He was a praying man, who morning and evening had family prayers (and I'm sure other times when no one was watching) upholding all his children, grandchildren, great grand children and anyone one else who was in need of prayers.  I had written previously how following his death, misfortune started visiting our families. It just hit me - the Staff of God in Moses hands was the Prayer in Faith, the intercessory prayers, my grandfather prayed to God for his loved ones and difficult situations in life.  As long as Moses' hands held up the Staff of God, Joshua and the Israelites had victory. When his hand  was lowered, the Amalekites gained advantage. In our family, with my grandfather's passing the staff of God - his intercessory prayers on our behalf was no more. The Amalekites in our lives gained advantage. Misfortune after misfortune affected many of our families. When it came to the children and grandchildren, our faith and our prayer life had much to be desired compared to my grandfather.

Look !!! You out there !!!. The grandfathers... grandmothers... fathers... mothers... you are the Moses', the Aarons and the Hurs of your family and your community. Every father / husband is the Moses for his family.  If you are a single mother, you are the Moses! When you are living out your desert experiences, your children seem uncaring, unloving, disobedient and not wanting to listen to you, are grumbling because you can't meet their new wants or needs, life seems to be a constant struggle, lift up your prayers in faith to the God Almighty, he will keep the Amalekites of your family life at bay and guide you to victory.  Surround yourself with a couple of good friends (the Aarons and the Hurs) who have the same values as yourself who will hold you up in prayer when you get tired (even as Aaron and Hur did as Moses' hands got tired) and become prayer warriors! You will see the Amalekites in your life routed! For He is Yahweh Nissi!

Hillsongs - the desert song