Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“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.”
NL Daily Devotion for Friday, October 7, 2022
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
Even the strongest prophets need help. They’re just people after all, and let’s be honest—the work of a prophet is thankless, exhausting, and often discouraging. Now, I’m no fan of all the war-mongering in the Bible, but if I look at it as an allegory, I can get behind it. Speaking God’s prophetic words of justice to people who don’t want to hear them is a mighty struggle. It can lead to burnout, persecution, and assassination. Despite the Bible singling out individual prophets and often painting them as isolated, lone wolves, the fact is that no one can do this work alone. Not then, not now. Elijah had the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8-16) and Elisha (1 Kings 19:19-21). Jeremiah had Baruch ben Neriah (Jeremiah 36:1-8) and Ebed-Melech (Jeremiah 38:1-16). And Moses has Aaron and Hur and Miriam and Jethro, just to name a few off the top of my head. I’m sure there are plenty more examples.
So what can I take from this today? First, if I am called to be a prophet, and speak God’s words of justice to the world, I don’t have to do it alone. Second, if I am not called to be a prophet directly, there are a million places for me to lend my support to those who are out there prophesying at great risk to themselves. It’s big, big work, and this world desperately needs it.
Whose arm can I help hold up as they speak God’s words of justice to those in power?
