Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands grew weary; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. 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 sun set. And Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the sword.”
NL Daily Devotion for Saturday, June 18, 2022
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
I’m so sorry. I can’t stop giggling. All I can see when I read this passage is some Mel Brooks-esque scene in which Moses is raising and lowering his hand intentionally to change the direction of the battle, all with a wicked grin. Or maybe Monty Python-esque. Can’t you just see the mugging expressions?
I know it’s not supposed to be funny. It was war. People were dying. I know I should wax eloquent about how we are all faced with challenges that require endurance we don’t think we have, and God sends us helpers to hold our hands up so that we don’t grow too weary, and we are victorious in the end. All that is true, and if that’s the inspiration you take from it, God bless you.
If you’re like me, though, you probably won’t ever be able to read this passage with a straight face again. I’m so, so sorry.
When does God sustain me in my weariness? How does humor give me energy to persist?
