“Aaron & Hur” Exodus 17:8-16 Pastor Bob Leroe, Cliftondale Congregational Church, Saugus, Massachusetts
A group of infantry soldiers were going through Airborne School at Fort Benning Georgia. As they prepared for their first jump, the jumpmaster explained that when the green light went on, everyone was to stand up, hook up, jump out, count to 4 and the chutes would open. If that failed, they had an emergency back-up chute. Then after they landed, a bus would take everyone back to main post. One soldier jumped from the aircraft, but nothing happened. He tried to open his back-up parachute. Nothing happened. As he was headed downward he thought, “Great--and I bet the bus won’t be there to pick us up either!” We all need support, and hopefully we’re getting it!
Aaron and Hur provided support for Moses. The first time I heard of these two men was in the military. The Army Chief of Chaplains has a prestigious award, The Order of Aaron and Hur, for individuals who have in some remarkable way supported “the arms of the Chaplaincy”. It is rarely given out, and when it is, it’s a big deal.
In Exodus 17 we see Israel faced with its first major military threat, the Amalekites. They were a hostile tribe, the descendants of Jacob’s brother Esau (Gen 36). This unprovoked attack was a preview of the kind of struggles the Jewish nation would face as they began the conquest of Canaan. As they engaged in combat, Moses prayed for his army with outstretched arms, as he did before the Red Sea. Moses was providing prayer cover for his people. While his arms were raised, the Israeli soldiers prevailed, but as Moses weakened, the battle shifted. The raising of hands is a common posture for prayer, but an uplifted arm can only be raised only so long. So Aaron and Hur stood beside Moses and kept his arms raised up.
Aaron and Hur were Moses’ top leaders, his right-hand men. They were given authority to act in his stead during times of absence. Aaron was Moses’ brother, and according to tradition (the Midrash), Hur was Moses’ brother-in-law (Miriam’s husband). Hur’s grandson was one of the builders of the Tabernacle. These two men were enabling Moses’ intercession. Aaron’s name means “strength”; Hur’s means “liberty.” They enabled Moses to maintain vigil in behalf of the army. Moses stood over the battlefield with his wooden staff in his hand and his command staff at his side. His prayerful presence aided the morale of the troops.
Moses needed encouragement because his own people were complaining and criticizing him. He faced an uphill battle with these “stiff-necked” people, and they found out how dangerous it was to oppose their leader. His intercession made the difference in battle. It wasn’t the strength of their army that was critical, but the power of prayer. The defeat of the Amalekites was a redemptive event. It is significant that Moses prayed with his wooden staff, which played an important function in the ten plagues against Egypt. God through Moses delivered His people. The hilltop overlooking the battlefield was where the battle was truly won.
Why was all this warfare necessary? We need to face the sober fact that a lot of blood was shed in establishing a Jewish homeland. The “Land of Promise, of milk and honey” sure wasn’t easy to occupy! Those of us who’ve studied the ethics of war have had some difficulty with the divine command to take Canaan by force. If only the occupants had willingly let the Hebrews in. Instead they opposed God’s plan. They worshipped other gods. Israel was not just another nation; its armed struggles were part of a just cause under legitimate authority.
Aaron and Hur gave Moses encouragement and support, something we all need. Some Sundays you probably don’t feel like coming to church. You may feel discouraged, burdened by various circumstances. Guess what? I have days like that also. I’m troubled by situations just as you are. And I need your support. All pastors need people like Aaron and Hur to lift them up in prayer. I’m not asking for a raise in pay, just that you all help me raise my arms. Pray for my entire family.
This incident presents a picture of what the Church does--we support the hurt, the discouraged, the lost, the frustrated, the weak, the helpless. Sometimes the people who need the most help are those we think have it all together.
When the arms get tired, the work slows down. We need to lift up the arms of our church board members, our secretary, sexton, choir director, the teachers and helpers in Sunday School, the food pantry volunteers, the workers in the Nursery, our youth group leaders, the greeters and ushers, our treasurer, and probably a dozen or more that I’ve left out.
We are engaged in spiritual warfare. The battle is all around us. We are fighting temptations, falsehood, secular worldviews, unhealthy lifestyles, unbalanced priorities, distractions, and other matters that keep us from being all God wants for us. We’re in a battle against the world, the flesh and the devil. The real enemies we oppose are the subtle influences that can affect our spiritual condition. Our daily battles are fought within the context of the cosmic battle that Christ has already won.
Life is full of situations where we need help. Jesus faced this fact of life, one dark and lonely evening as He entered the garden of Gethsemane to pray. It was the night in which He was betrayed. It’s significant that Jesus asked Peter, James and John to be with Him. He needed their support. The Gospels tell us that Jesus began to feel troubled, and then He explained, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow, to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.”
Everyone needs an Aaron and Hur in their life. Someone who’ll say, “Can I lend you a hand?” Your family needs to hear you say the same thing: “Honey, I can help you do that…Mom, I can take over that job?”
Sometimes the support structure just isn’t there. Because of our constant traveling while serving in the military, we raised our family entirely on our own. There was no “village”; and it wasn’t easy. When you see people struggling, how do you respond? The support structure of Aaron and Hur remind us of the importance of teamwork. None of us are as smart or strong as all of us. As we work together in harmony, we can accomplish great things for God.
In the Army, not all chaplains do “muddy boots” ministry. Some sit behind desks, doing resource management, planning programs, processing personnel and policy matters. Administrative chaplains are called “ministry enablers.” They don’t get much glory, but they’re like Aaron and Hur. Those of you who’ve worked at GE were in a similar situation. You provided combat service logistical support, a vital role in keeping our nation’s defense strong.
After the battle Moses erected an altar as a victory monument. It wasn’t an altar of sacrifice. Monuments are reminders of how God intervened and brought about a remarkable action, something that can only be explained by His power. Moses gave this altar a name: “The Lord is my Banner.” A banner was a covering, a protection. Moses provided prayer cover, and God covered His people with divine protection. In Jewish weddings the bride and groom stand under a canopy, symbolic of the protection God promises to His people. Moses also recorded God’s victory on a scroll. There are times we would do well to write down events where God intervened, as a future encouragement for the dry seasons of life.
What monuments are present in your life? What events can you look back on as times when God did something providential? Who’s encouraging you as you face life’s battles? And who are you supporting in prayer? We are pilgrims who are also soldiers. By standing together, holding one another up, we will prevail. By encouraging one another, we endure hardship and remain steadfast in the struggles of life.
