In reading Exodus 17 and the familiar account of Aaron and Hur raising Moses' arms to defeat the Amalekites in battle, I noticed the very last verse of the chapter as one hidden behind the well-known passage naming the altar Jehovahnissi. It was what Moses stated after building the altar,
He said, "Because hands were lifted up against the throne of the LORD, the LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation" (Exodus 17:16 NIV).
While there are various interpretations and translations of the verse, I relished the principle that the Lord fights our battles when the enemy raises his hand against Him. And that battle continues from generation to generation.
Brenton’s English translation of the Septuagint offered additional spiritual provision for those battles,
For with a secret hand the Lord wages war upon Amalec to all generations.[1]
Notice all the “hands” in the script: As Moses raises his hands, the battle moves forward in Israel’s favor, following Amalekites raising their hands against the Lord, resulting in the Lord’s secret hand responding against the enemy.
Ah, but one actor is missing in today’s screenplay from that inscribed millennia ago; it was added by the Apostle Paul to Timothy also to be filled by us,
“I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” (1 Timothy 2:8 KJV).
It would be quite a spiritual find if wrath and doubt surfaced in Aaron and Hur’s etymology.
Alas, that is not to be true 😊. However, the two can prompt us to pray without wrath and doubt to see the secret hand of the Lord move in our life's spiritual battles.
[1] C. L. Brenton, Lancelot. Septuagint in American English 2012 (with Apocrypha) (p. 139). Kindle Edition.
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