May-June 2023 - Moses, Aaron, and Ur*

Wayne Forte’s painting celebrates the victory of the Israelites — under the leadership of Joshua — over the fierce Amalekites at Rephidim.  But this is no gory battle scene with opponents dying by the sword!  Rather, it is an imaginative interpretation of Exodus 17:8-15 that underscores the power of prayer and support when facing our enemies.

The linked figures of Moses, Aaron, and Hur, dressed in solid white robes, dominate the foreground of the painting.  With their backs to the viewer, they look out over the crowded battlefield below, as the setting sun begins to ignite the colors of the desert landscape.   In the center sits Moses, his arms upraised in a posture of prayer and supplication.  Verse 11 tells us of God’s provision for this battle: “As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but when he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning” (NIV).

The battle raged all day, and in his physical weariness, Moses turned to his brother Aaron and friend Hur for support:  “When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it.  Aaron and Hur held his hands up — one on one side, one on the other — so that his hands remained steady till sunset” (Ex. 17:12).

We all have desert times when we are confronted by an enemy or by difficult circumstances.  Is prayer your first line of defense?  Who is the Aaron or Hur in your life?  Who are the friends and leaders you can support with prayer and encouragement?

* sic.

Cover image courtesy of Wayne Forte. ©2017 Wayne Forte.  Prints of cover art are available from www.wayneforte.com.