Friendship

He wakes and lifts his weary head off of the rock that was last night's pillow. His apprenticeship has begun and he is to meet with the fearless leader as the sun rises in the east over the mountains that seem to reach to heaven. He yawns and stretches and brings his garment together with his sash after taking care of his morning functions. It was difficult this morning because of the lack of hydration in his blood. It has been a long journey from Egypt and the journey has only just begun. But rise he must and rise he does, the nation and its mentor await here at Rephidim, which ironically means "support" in Hebrew. It gives him a tremendous sense of youthful anticipation to finally put his fighting skills to good use. He tires of walking and yearns for the freedom that the days battle could provide, if only temporarily. He fears no the death that the same said battle could equally provide, because eternall life with the Lord beats camping with all of these whining women, crying children, whaling animals, and prideful patriarchs. He is a man's man. He approaches his master who just yesterday gave him his marching orders. His men are in full gear, the best swordsmen and warriors that the nation can provide despite the lack of training in the bondage of her past. It is hope that sweats from the pores of their skin under their broken armor.

The trumpet sounds. The battle cry is deafening. The sparks of swords. The sounds of horror. The spatter of blood. The sky was bright, but turns dark. He looks to the hill where his master stands with his staff in his hands held up high for the soldiers to see. The pillar of fire in the distance provides the instant reflection needed to remind him of the necessary of this evil. "Keep those hands raised", he thinks as he sees them begin to fall. The man's hands start to go down. DOWN!...he falls to his knees just missing the potential for his ending at the hand of an Amalekite beast. His sword reacts to this movement with a thrust into the side of that rabid enemy and a huge surge of adrenaline pours through his veins with a power that is far greater than his own.

Time passes and the battle rages and he gazes again upon the hill in the west where, confused, he sees the silhouette of the aged man who leads this nomadic nation. The quivering body now sits on a rock. His hands are still high, but they are resting on the strength of his two friends, one on either side of him. Keep holding them up. For as long as they are up, victory is certain. The battle winds begin to blow and the stench begins to fill the air. The squall and attack of the vultures is one that haunts him in his nightmares for the rest of his days until his passing in that great land of milk and honey, Oh great Galilee!

Back up on the hill, the Lord God says to the once-timid-coward who tried everything to avoid confrontation with his brother-in-law the Pharoah...God said, "Moses, write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that you servant Joshua (the apprentice on the battlefield) hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven"

Moses was one of the greatest heroes of Old Testament lore, almost mythical infact, because of the great deeds that God performed through him and his staff. Even the chosen one, on that fateful day when he followed the Creator's instructions, needed his buddies (Aaron and Hur) to keep him "lifted up". He also needed his friend, Joshua, on the battlefield to wield his sword to victory. All of this friendship was necessary to fulfill God's purpose.

I was told of a sign in a locker room recently that said, "show me your three best friends and I will show you your future". Who are your friends? Would they die for you? Do they lift you up?

My prayer today is that I am thankful for the great friends that I have, especially the one who died on the cross 2000+ years ago for my sins...without even knowing me!

rs