Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Threefold Cord (04/12/12)
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TITLE: Three Was Not a Crowd | Previous Challenge Entry
By Lillian Rhoades
04/19/12 -
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Like many of us, Moses found himself in the middle of a battle for survival. He thought he had it all figured out. After all, didn’t he have the
most powerful weapon, the rod of God in his hands? But as many of us know, and Moses discovered, conflict is never easy even when we know
that God has promised to be with us no matter what difficulties we face. Whether they are inner struggles, or conflicts that come from interacting
with others, facing the enemy within or without is no easy task.
To his credit, Moses had developed a strategy to defeat the enemy. His plan was to stand on the top of a hill with the rod of God held high until
Amalek surrendered. And God could have used the rod to instantly annihilate the enemy, but he had a lesson for Moses, the people under his
leadership, and for us today: Although all power is in his hand, he works his will through people.
Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ hand until the battle was won. In this biblical account of team work, three was not a crowd. Today, we would call
Aaron and Hur Moses’ support system. We might also call them weight-bearers who held up Moses’ hand after they became weighed down with
weariness.
The story of Moses, Aaron and Hur has relevance for today. It illustrates the importance of doing what Hebrew 12:12 commands: ‘Strengthen the
hands which hang down, and the feeble knee.’ Our world is filled with those who have hands, heads, and hearts that ‘hang down’ under the
weight of an unresolved problem, a fractured relationship, or a painful past. All of us at some time in our lives have experience similar ‘weight’
problems. Consider how vital the need to have a support team that we can depend on; and to become part of a support team as well.
Moses story brings to mind the time when I found my favorite plant lying on its side and broken in half from the weight of leaves at the top that
had grown ceiling high. The leaves that had once sported a vibrant green were already beginning to wither. Instantly, I realized what I had failed to
do to keep my plant from reaching the breaking point. I had not realized that the heavier the weight of the leaves, the more support the plant
needed. It had everything it needed to grow – rich soil, water, and light, but that was not enough. It needed strong cord and a sturdy stake to
support the stem. And so it goes for us, the heavier our burdens, the more support we need. For Moses, three proved to be enough.
There’s another aspect in the story of Moses, Aaron, and Hur that fascinates me. The bond between them was strong enough to keep both men
at their post. Imagine sitting beside a stone, or perhaps kneeling on the ground while supporting Moses' elbow or arm until the sun goes down, as the Bible states, and never really knowing when you'll punch out and go home for dinner.
Furthermore, if Moses had something to eat, I’m sure he was spoon fed. Otherwise, they would have lost the battle.
Perhaps with stomachs growling, and certainly with day slipping into eventide, it’s obvious Aaron and Hur were committed to being part of a
threefold effort to defeat the enemy. Both men did whatever it took; even if it meant missing dinner. They were also not fussy about comfortable
seating. From all indications, they found a stone for Moses to sit on, but nothing for themselves.
Aaron and Hur demonstrated what it meant to have true commitment, selflessness, and willingness to put others before themselves. Outside of
love, I can think of no stronger cord to wrap around the life of someone who is almost at the breaking point. They gave to Moses the sort of
support he needed, and each of us needs.
Let me emphasize one point barely touched on earlier. God could have used his rod and given Moses supernatural strength to get the job done.
But he didn’t because he prefers to use people like you and me. Are we willing to join God’s team, to lend our support to someone who would
otherwise break from the weight of cares? Bind us together with cords that can never be broken, need not be just a song sung, but a principle we practice.
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Great job with this.
God Bless~
Not only did you "nail" the challenge topic perfectly with the Moses/Aaron/Hur story of strength in numbers, you were able to translate that message and make it relevant for our lives, here and now, today. Good for you!
Thank you for this. It has encouraged me to be an Aaron or a Hur for those around me, AND...allow others to help me.
Here's my "Two thumbs up!"
I particularly was struck with the focus of helping selflessly; even if it means discomfort to self.
A job well done on two fronts.
Did you notice the formatting seems to be a bit off, with shorter lines, like you manually pressed "enter" for the end of a line? Certainly not a big deal though.
This was so creative, and a great reminder of truth.
I noted at one point you missed an apostrophe on Moses. Some of it seemed a tad repetitive to me. I can't put my finger on the exact spot, but it felt like you were repeating your point.
I thought the way you alternated the lines was quite clever. It made me think of how a strong or long line together with a weaker or shorter line is a great analogy for life. together the long and short make a whole. Nicely done.