Three Keys to Teamwork in Trying Times

When times get tough, how do you respond?

The Israelites were attacked by a group of nomad raiders called the Amalekites. In Exodus 17, Moses– the Israelites’ leader–ordered some of his men to fight the Amalekites. Moses went to the top of a nearby hill to oversee the battlefield. Here’s where it gets interesting: “As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage” (Exodus 17:11). Moses had the team on his back–well, shoulders–at the most crucial moment of the battle. Here’s what we learn.

HANDS UP

It seems like a paradox that victory came when Moses held his hands up. Think about it. When hands are stretched up in battle, that usually signifies surrender. Moses did surrender; however, it wasn’t to the Amalekites. Instead, Moses surrendered the outcome of the battle to God. Life’s greatest victories emerge when we unleash the power of surrender. Things don’t go as planned; life is uncontrollable; circumstances overwhelm. What next? Hands up. Surrender the outcome of today’s battle to God. The first step is to surrender your entire life by receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Then, you fight in faith, daily surrendering life’s battles because hope is found in Him and victory occurs through Him.

TEAM UP

Moses’ arms grew tired. Exhausted and desperate for relief, Moses enlisted help from Aaron and Hur. They placed a stone underneath Moses for him to sit and then stood at Moses’ side each holding up one of his hands (Exodus 17:12). This group teamed up. Each position mattered, and every person knows their role. They supported one another, capitalized on the moment and went all in.

PRAISE UP

Winning creates worship. All of us worship–will we worship our hands or the Almighty’s hands? Moses immediately built an altar after this huge victory so that his team would praise up. Attention turned from themselves to God. The altar altered their adoration.

Hands up. Team up. Praise up.

Fight well today.