Facing Challenges in Ministry

We face all kinds of challenges in ministry.
What attitudes do we need to face our
challenges? I like to draw some lessons from
Exo 17:8-13.
8 Then Amalek came and fought against
Israel at Rephidim.
9 So Moses said to Joshua,
"Choose men for us and go out, fight against
Amalek
Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of
the hill with the staff of God in my hand."
10 Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought
against Amalek;
and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the
top of the hill.
11 So it came about when Moses held his
hand up, that Israel prevailed,
and when he let his hand down, Amalek
prevailed.
12 But Moses' hands were heavy.
Then they took a stone and put it under him,
and he sat on it;
and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one
on one side and one on the other.
Thus his hands were steady until the sun set.
13 So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his
people with the edge of the sword.
Moses, Joshua, Aaron and Hur ... there may
be times when your role is Moses,
sometimes, Joshua and sometimes, Aaron or
Hur. Let's look at each one of them.
Moses
The Amalek came to fight against Israel ...
this was the challenge before Moses. What
was Moses' response?
Chose Joshua, gave instructions to Joshua to
choose men and delegate the responsibility
to fight to Joshua – Moses tackled the
problem head-on. When there is a problem,
we got to do something!
This probably wasn't Moses' natural
inclination … to take the bull by its horns.
When God called Moses, Moses gave
excuses. When the Egyptians chased after the
Israelites with their soldiers, horses and
chariots, the people complained against him,
Moses cried out to God (v 15). What was
God's response? Why are you crying out to
Me? You've faith (cf Exo 14:13-14) then do
something … tell the people to go forward!
Exo 14:16 … As for you … Moses, you've a
part to play
Exo 14:17 … As for Me … Moses, you do your
part and I will do my part
When you're doing God's work, you do your
part and ask God's help; God will do his part.
You got to do something then see what God
will do.
As we face our challenges, we got to do
something … faith is not divorced from
action. Tackle problems head-on.
A wise leader does not do everything. He
looks for people who have the relevant gifts
and experience … people who are faithful. He
looks for people whom he can equip for the
ministry.
Back to Exo 17 … what else did Moses do?
Moses' responsibility does not end after
delegation. Moses told Joshua, "Tomorrow I
will station myself on the top of the hill with
the staff of God in my hand". Moses said,
"Joshua, I will pray for you." Pray for the
people that God had entrusted to you. Tell
these people … I prayed and am praying for
you. This provides great encouragement.
When Moses said, “Tomorrow I will station
myself on the top of the hill with the staff of
God in my hand” … what do you think was
the impact on Joshua?
Moses' staff was no ordinary staff … it was
the staff of God. It was the staff that Moses
raised and stretched out over the sea to
divide the waters. Probably it was waved to
return the waters that drowned the Egyptians
soldiers and horses. The staff of God was a
symbol of power, deliverance and victory.
When Moses said, "Tomorrow I will station
myself on the top of the hill with the staff of
God in my hand" … Joshua knew he had
Moses' support and all of God’s power
behind him as he goes into battle.
As we face our challenges, let's pray … let's
support one another in prayer.
Joshua
When Moses gave Joshua the task of
selecting men for the battle … it is a difficult
task. Though Israel was armed for battle
when they left Egypt (Exo 13:18) … the people
had not fought a battle for some 400 years.
What’s worse was that they are a
complaining lot … no graves in Egypt, bitter
water, no food, no water … complaints after
complaints. Joshua probably did not have
many to choose from but he did not
complain. He worked with what he had.
As we face our challenges, let's us not
complain about what we don't have; instead
use what we have … we do our part and trust
God to do His part.
During the battle ...
Not sure if Joshua could see Moses up on
the hill; definitely hard to see Moses when
Moses was sitting down on the rock.
Not sure if there were breaks in the battle
that Joshua could take time to scan the hill
for Moses.
Not sure if at the time of battle, Joshua knew
that whenever Moses' hand was up, they
were winning but whenever Moses' hand was
down, the Amalek was winning.
In any case when Joshua was fighting, he
must have fought as if the outcome … victory
… was totally dependent on him and his men.
He and his men got to do something … but
when that thing wasn't working … in bringing
the desired result … I'm sure they did
something else. The battle was dynamic …
times when the Amalek was winning, times
when they were … and Joshua had to adapt
accordingly.
As face our challenges, we got to do
everything we can … as if everything depends
on us.
Back to Moses on the hill … he soon
realized that while the battle was going on
physically below, the outcome was
determined at a different level … at the
spiritual level … when his hand was up, the
Israelites were winning but when his hand
was down, the Amalek was winning.
This is a good reminder that we are in a
spiritual war … when we are engaging in
ministry, we are engaging in battle … a battle
with unseen forces. One problem that is
associated with such a battle is that it is not
consciously and not continuously on our
mind – simply because it is unseen.
As we face our challenges, let's remind one
another that we are in spiritual warfare.
Why did Moses choose to station himself on
the top of the hill? … so that he could see the
progress of the battle … so that he could pray
and support intelligently. Ask yourself, where
is that hill where you can station yourself?
As we face our challenges, keep one another
informed as to what is happening … seek
prayer support … send SMS, email. And when
you receive a SMS or an email, pray there
and then.
Aaron and Hur
But Moses was tired. He had difficulty
keeping his hands up. Aaron and Hur took a
stone and put it under Moses and Moses sat
on it. Then Aaron and Hur supported Moses’
hands … one on each side … literally, a
supportive role.
As we face our challenges, let’s lend a
supportive hand to one another. Don't draw
a strict demarcation; don't say, "This is my
duty, that is yours!"
Conclusion
What if on the day of battle, Aaron and Hur
were not by the side of Moses? God could
zap the Amalek but He had chosen to use
man. Who do you think was instrumental for
the victory over the Amalek? Aaron and Hur?
Was it Joshua? Was it Moses?
As we face our challenges, let's be the team
at Rephidim … each playing our part. Moses,
Aaron and Hur … they prayed because they
knew the outcome depends on God and they
prayed … until the sun set … the whole day!
Need to persevere in prayer … and in
ministry. As for Joshua and his men … they
fought as if everything depended on them.
Ultimately, "The LORD is My Banner" (Exo
17:15).