Lessons From the Secret Place – Lesson 7: Lift up Weary Hands

Last week I had a disturbing dream. When I awoke, I asked the Lord to show me what it meant.  Following is what I received: 

The hope of many in the church as grown cold.  The pressures of life and the voices of the world have beaten down my church and many of my children are “lying on the floor in the fetal position feeling defeated and hopeless.” 

Many are contemplating whether they still even want to go on in their faith.  They are struggling to see me in the culture, their churches, and in their own lives.  The enemy has crept into their homes and churches with his bullying lies.  

He is attempting to deceive my Bride into believing that I am a cold, uncaring God, and in some cases has convinced them I do not even exist.  He is trying to remove all hope from my people.

The enemy is coming in to tempt the weak in faith with treats (pleasures) to build their trust and to gain their favor.  He knows the “sweet spot” and is tirelessly working to gain access or to maintain the hold he already has on them.  

However, I have a righteous, holy remnant who are full of faith and who are doing their best to encourage the hurting not to give in to the bullying of the enemy.  They are trying to support those who are beaten down.

As Christian’s we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus to others.  While my dream was about the Church, in this time of turmoil in our world people both inside and outside the church are hurting and confused.  How then can we minister to those who are hurting, lost, broken, battered, and feeling defeated, and hopeless?  

We Can Stand in the Gap.

Ezekiel 22:30, “I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one.” (NLT)

Today God is still looking for those who will stand in the gap and pray for others.  He is looking for those who will take a stand between “what is now” and “what should be” (His will) for people.  

Many do not even know where to begin or how to continue fighting for themselves.  Maybe they have been fighting and for no fault of their own, but through the poor choices of others, have continued to be defeated. Maybe they have been trying to fight in their own strength. Or maybe they have been deceived into thinking there is no use fighting at all.  Whichever, situation, and these are just three possibilities, it is our job to intercede for and with them until we see a breakthrough.  

I want to look at two Biblical examples of men who stood in the gap for others.

First, up is Moses.  

In Exodus 32, we read the account of the Golden Calf.  In verses 11-14 we read Moses’s intercession for the Israelites who had just sinned by turning their back on God and making an idol for themselves to worship.  

Exodus 32:14, And the LORD relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people. (MEV)

Here we see that the intercession of Moses caused God to relent from the disaster He had intended to pour out on the people.  Moses, one who had strong faith, stood in the gap for those who were weak in their faith, and God heard and answered.  

Second, is Abraham.

In Genesis 18:22-33 we find Abraham negotiating with God (interceding) for the town of Sodom. The angel of the Lord had told Abraham that He was about to destroy Sodom because of the great wickedness of the people.  Abraham, moved with compassion for his nephew Lot and his family, asked the Lord repeatedly, “If you find x number of people will you not spare the city for x number?”  Each time God said he would indeed spare the city.  In the end however, even the smallest amount (10 righteous people) could not be found.  

Genesis 18:29 says, God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived.

God spared Lot because of Abraham’s intercession for him. Our intercession impacts lives by opening the door for God to move on their behalf. We might never know what impact our prayers had on the ones for whom we intercede, however, we can rest in the knowledge that “if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” (1 John 5:14b ESV) God is faithful!!

We Can Hold Up Weary Hands

There are numerous examples in the Word of people “holding up weary hands,” by taking practical steps to assist those in need. 

First, are Aaron and Hur.

In Exodus 17:8-13, we find the account of the Amalekites attacking the Israelites.  The Bible tells us that Moses stood on the mountain holding up the staff of the Lord and that when it was held up, Joshua and the army were winning.  However, when Moses grew tired and the staff was lowered, Joshua and the army started losing ground.  Aaron and Hur, seeing what was happening, took action.

Exodus 17:12-13, 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. And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword. (ESV)

Aaron and Hur did what they knew to do.  They held up the arms of Moses as long as was necessary to see victory.  

Second, is Ruth.

In the book of Ruth, we find one of my favorite Bible stories.  We know that Naomi, along with her husband and two sons, had moved to country of Moab.  While they were there all three men died, leaving Naomi alone with her two Moabite daughters-in-law.  We read that Naomi was so beaten down that when she and Ruth arrived in Israel, she told everyone to call her Mara, “bitterness”.  

Ruth did the only thing she knew how to do to help Naomi, she went to work to support her.  Ruth 2:2, And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”  While meeting the seen/felt need of Naomi, provision, Ruth was blessed with the favor of Boaz, Naomi’s relative. (ESV)

We know that Ruth married Boaz.  Ruth 4:13-15 says, So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”(ESV)

Through one practical act of act of love and kindness Ruth not only provided for Naomi’s immediate need but changed her future as well.  No longer did her life feel bitter but full and alive!!

Finally, we have David. 

In 1 Samuel 17, we read the amazing account of David defeating Goliath. David, who was by trade a shepherd, held God in high esteem and reverence. He had an intimate relationship with God and was deeply disturbed by the mocking of Goliath not only against the Israelite army but against God.  

1 Samuel 17:32, And David said to Saul, “Let no man's heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” (ESV)

1 Samuel 17:45-47, 50-51, Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a shield, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have reviled. This day will the Lord deliver you into my hand. And I will strike you down and cut off your head. Then I will give the corpses of the Philistine camp this day to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the earth so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And then all this assembly will know that it is not by sword and spear that the Lord saves. For the battle belongs to the Lord, and He will give you into our hands.”

So, David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone. And he struck down the Philistine and slew him, but there was no sword in the hand of David.

 Therefore, David ran and stood over the Philistine. Then he took his sword and drew it from out of its sheath, and he finished him off and he cut off his head with it. (ESV)

David, a boy between thirteen and seventeen, took up his weapon and took down the giant that was harassing the Army of Israel.  He not only took practical steps to take out the enemy, but he also brought restored faith to God’s people.  

In conclusion, tonight I read the following example of someone who lifted the weary hands of a stranger by taking a practical step to meet a felt need.  May we all be mindful of the people God places in our path both in and outside the church.  

"I was grocery shopping when I received a call that my grandpa had died. My grandpa and I were close my whole life, everybody called me his little shadow. We knew it was coming, but to hear it over the phone put me into a shock. I just stood there and went white and numb. An older couple happened to be standing near me and sensed something was wrong. They asked but I couldn’t make words come out. They sat with me for a while, got ahold of my best friend to come pick me up, AND bought the groceries in my cart. Then, not too long after, they sent flowers to my house! Apparently, they had my friend’s phone number from when they called her and they paid her to send a bouquet to me. That was one of the worst days of my life and I miss my grandpa every single day, but that kindness and humanity makes me cry in a good way."-Susie