The Hebrew people did not have an easy time as they fled Egypt for Sinai. The book of Exodus recounts their trials and hardships, and God’s ever-faithful presence. Sunday’s first reading comes from a passage in the narrative after the Egyptian army has been destroyed and after the people have faced three crises in the desert: bitter waters, hunger, and extreme thirst.
Each time God intervenes. God shows the people a piece of wood to throw in the bitter water; the water becomes sweet. To satisfy their hunger, God sends quail and manna. To quench their thirst, water springs from a rock.
Sunday’s first reading culminates this triptych of God’s life-giving wonders with the powerful image of Moses raising his arms in prayer and praise as the Hebrew people face another crisis—a battle with the vicious Amelekites, who attack the most vulnerable among the faint and weary Hebrews. How can a small wandering band of former slaves hope to defeat the professional armies of Amelek?
Moses prays for God’s guidance and help in what could have been a terrible defeat. As long as he is able to hold his arms outstretched in prayer, the battle goes their way. The traditional Jewish prayer form is to pray with arms outstretched, opening oneself to God.
When Moses grows weary, Aaron and Hur come to his aid and hold up his arms. Nothing, the narrative tells us, is impossible for God if we persist in our relationship with God. But being human, we cannot do it alone. In community we find the strength to keep praying. By holding one another up, our journey to God will be assured.
Who defeats Amalek?
Amalek came and waged war against Israel. Moses said to Joshua, “Pick out certain men, and tomorrow go out and engage
Amalek in battle. I will be standing on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.”
So Joshua did as Moses told him: he engaged Amalek in battle after Moses had climbed to the top of the hill with Aaron and Hur. As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight, but when he let his hands rest, Amalek had the better of the fight.
Moses’ hands, however, grew tired; so they put a rock in place for him to sit on. Meanwhile Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other, so that his hands remained steady until sunset. And Joshua mowed down Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
Exodus 17.8-13
- Who holds you up in prayer regularly?
- Who do you hold up in prayer regularly?