Rivers begin when an insignificant bubble of water bursts through the earth and begins running toward the sea. The bubble becomes a brook and then joins another to become a stream. Streams meet and merge until they have made a mighty current. In the same way, the success of any entrepreneurial or ministerial endeavor depends not only on the strength of the individual, but also in the strength of the community that surrounds them.
There is a great illustration in the Bible that represents the importance of people working together in community to bring about great victory. It represents the power of four streams working together to build a river.
Exodus 17:8-13 “8 Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. 9 So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while 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 going down of the sun. 13 And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.”(ESV).
Sustaining victories are won in community not in silos, and various leadership styles are needed in order to accomplish the work of God. Moses, Joshua, Aaron, and Hur worked together with a godly synergy to prevail against their enemies, the Amalekites. Moses as the prophet and leader, Joshua as the commander, and both Aaron and Hur as key supporters. Without Moses’ direction and faith in God, Joshua couldn’t fight the battle. Without Joshua as the commander, the Israelites had no battle strategy or unity. Without Aaron and Hur supporting Moses as his hands grew weary, Moses wouldn’t have been able to wield the staff to win the battle. Everyone’s role was vital and irreplaceable. We find that when Biblical leadership is portrayed in a dynamic community of faith-filled men and women who champion their gifts, strengths and roles, then total victory is inevitable; the entire camp succeeds.
Do you have a Moses, Joshua, Aaron, and Hur in your life? Which one are you?
We all have Moses, Joshua, Aaron and Hur profiles in different situations and it is critical to discover how to harness them. The key is in knowing which role to harness at the right time in order to achieve victory over all the battles we face as individuals, families, businesses or ministries.
Moses: Anointed Leader; Pioneer, Mentor.
“So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.”(v.9).
Moses directed Joshua the commander, and he had the great responsibility of shepherding the people of Israel. As a mentor, Moses took Joshua under his wings, trained him, and showed him how to walk with God. Moses realized that his personal strength could only get him so far. Moses’ father-in-law Jethro once scolded him for taking on too much. He told Moses that if he was making all of the decisions he would wear himself out and all of the people of God. He realized that in order for them to win their battle, he needed close, trustworthy, and self-motivated supporters. Moses learned to delegate and began trusting others. The roles Aaron and Hur provided were invaluable and indispensable to Moses.
If you are a Moses, you should be accurately leading the people who are following you. Your instructions should be simple and clear to your leadership. You should be working through people to accomplish the goals God has given you, empowering others, and avoiding the inevitable failure of trying to do things all by yourself. Moses was able to lead the Israelites through the Red Sea without assistance, but later on in life, Moses needed support of other men holding his arms as he raised the staff. Who are those who can be your closest supporters? Who are those in whom you can lean on for support when your strength is slowly abating? Are you preparing an apprentice to champion your position when God calls you to the next assignment? Take a quick moment to identify a potential Joshua, Aaron and a Hur. Remember to utilize these individuals as Moses did to accomplish victory.
Perhaps you are predominately a Joshua.
Joshua: Valiant Fighter; Champion, Mentee.
“So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek,…”(v.10).
Joshua led the Israelite camp on the ground level. He was the commander of the army and was fearless in terms of battle. Peering deeper into his life, he was filled with godly faith and fight, remained close to Moses, loved God, and he led the Israelites into the eventual conquest of their promised land. He was the champion in the camp. He believed in taking what was “for the taking”. “And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.”(v.13). While God was giving Moses the commandments, Joshua was the only other individual allowed on the mountain with him. As a mentee, every success that Joshua had was built upon the lessons from his elder. He was able to stand on the shoulders of Moses seeing clearly into the future.
You should be on the front lines if you are a Joshua. You should strike but not without a strategy, and not without mentor support. You will take hits, but they will make you stronger. Intimacy with God should be the top priority because if you fight in your own strength, you will lose the battle and fail those who are fighting with you. Who are you rallying together for the God-given gift, cause, and passion God has given?
Perhaps you are neither a Moses or a Joshua, what then?
Aaron and Hur: Dedicated Supporter, Encouragers, and Confidantes.
“But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while 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 going down of the sun.” (v.12)
These men were close enough to Moses to know when he needed help. They took a stone to support his weight. They used their hands to support his hands while he held the staff. They were there for Moses until the “going down of the sun”. When Moses was tired, they were strong. If it weren’t for the concerted efforts of Aaron and Hur then Moses, Joshua, and the Israelites would have utterly lost their battle against the Amalekites. Moses’ success was only as good as those who were his biggest confidantes. His victory was a result of his ability to allow his supporters to help him in the areas of his constraints. Aaron and Hur made it their agenda to simply aid Moses.
Are you called to aid a Moses of a Joshua? Are you an Aaron or Hur? If so, there are victories that cannot and will not be won until you begin to support, encourage, and help a leader. You can be a leader by supporting a leader. Identify a leader that you will begin to support and encourage. Talk with them about how you can aid them and watch what God will do. Maybe you need to be a financial supporter. Perhaps, they can use an extra set of hands. Maybe you will consistently send them encouragement through gifts, emails, and cards. Perhaps, you are to be a prayer partner with them, and become an intercessor for them in their ministry or business.
There are far too many silos in business and ministry. Isn’t it time we joined streams together and LET THE RIVER RUN