“But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun” (Exodus 17:12 ESV).
As long as Moses held his arms up to God, the Israelite army prevailed, but when he tired and began to lower his arms, the battle went against them. This is the spiritual influence that God invests in a leader, yet they remain human, subject to fatigue and discouragement like everyone else.
Many churches today replace their tired leaders with fresh ones, thinking that will turn the battle their way. It usually doesn’t. The new leaders eventually wear out too as such churches expect them to do all the ministry. Aaron and Hur thought of a better solution. Why not help hold up their leader’s arms? Why not give him some help without trying to steal his leadership? Humbly moving to help their leader turned the tide.
There are leadership lessons to be learned here: 1) Leaders must be humble enough to admit their need. 2) Leaders should delegate authority to others to help hold up their leadership arms. 3) Followers need to support their leaders through times of difficulty because when their leader succeeds, so do they. 4) Leaders and followers must recognize that the battle is the Lord’s and success is in His hands.
Remember this instruction from the book of Hebrews: “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you” (Heb. 13:17).
PRAYER: Dear Father, we pray for our spiritual leaders today. Help us to support them and not to discourage them. For you have given them authority and in supporting them we submit to You. Show us how to encourage those You have placed in authority this day. In Jesus’ name, amen.