On the valley floor a vicious battle raged. The combatants were the children of Israel on the one side and the Amalekites on the other (Exodus 17:8-16). Commander-in-Chief Moses, of Israel's forces, sat on a hilltop overlooking the hostilities. Below his army was in the capable hands of Joshua. Aaron and Hur, Moses' principle aides, stood with their venerable leader as he surveyed the situation.
Every war has its uinque aspects, I suppose, but this one definitely did. Israel had advantage over the Amalekites only as long as Moses extended his arms upward. As you can imagine, there were times when Moses was overcome by fatigue and his arms sagged. At those times when he was too tired to hold his arms up the amalekites prevailed. Hur and Aaron conceived an answer. Standing to the sides of Moses, each took a hand and held it high. The battle waged on till dark and Joshua, with his Israelite warriors, "discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword" (Exodus 17:13).
Isn't it amazing how things tend to change when we get tired and weary? We see things differently. Our efforts are less effective, our attitudes are not nearly as positive and our enthusiasm wanes. Moses' tired, weary arms stand as the classic monument to the effects of fatigue.
This is so true, so often, in the conduct of the church. We go at break-neck speed and have so many programs going. Then, all of a sudden, we "warriors" wake up to the realization we are tired. Our arms sag in weariness and the once-prospering programs slow to a discouraging pace. We've often heard it said that congregations have their "valleys" and "peaks". "Valleys" pretty well describes those moments when things have slowed down and the once busy, enthusiastic brethren are massaging their battle-worn muscles with balm.
Then it is time to regroup. There is work to be done, there are souls to save, there are goals to reach. Just how is the "regrouping" accomplished?
1. Prayer, knowing we can "do all things through Christ which strengtheneth us.
2. Re-sighting the lost. Do not lose sight of them.
3. Re-affirming our goals.
4. By looking in the mirror and talking to ourselves, convincing ourselves of the importance of who we are and what we are doing and knowing that it isn't going to get done without us.
5. Climb out of the doldrums on the step-ladder of positive attitude.
6. Determine to work together, holding each others' arms up in the greatest cause on earth.