Joshua

I heard someone say that everyone can find themselves in the Bible.  There have been times when I have identified with Hannah, Mary the mother of Jesus, Timothy, and others.  But, I almost always go back to Joshua.  His name means Yahweh is salvation.  He is well known as one of the Israelite spies in the land of Canaan and as the successor of Moses as the leader of the nation of Israel and as the leader of an unusual attack on Jericho.  But, we first see him leading the battle against the Amalekites in Exodus 17:8-16.  These 9 verses really hit me today and I saw many parallels in my own life. 

Moses gave Joshua the order to choose some fighting men and go into battle against the Amalekites.  Moses took Aaron and Hur with him to the top of a hill, and there he held up his hands.  As long as Moses' hands were in the air, Israel was winning, but when his hands dropped, Amalek was winning.  Aaron and Hur stood on each side of Moses and they each held up an arm until sunset when Joshua and his army defeated the Amalekites.  I love verse 14...The Lord said to Moses, "Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven."  And Moses built an altar to remember the battle and he named it "The Lord is my Banner". 

I am in a battle.  I need people to fight alongside of me and I need a Moses, an Aaron, and a Hur up on the hillside.  As much as I would like to win this battle on my own, I can't.  God knows who I need, and I believe He will show me.  I certainly need HIM!  One thing I know for certain, the victory is ours!  And the memory of this battle will be blotted out, but I will remember it because this is a turning point for me.  This will be the time I look back on and say, "That's when things changed!  That was a crucial moment for me!"  And I will build an altar of words to remember this battle and the victory!