Lift Up Your Hands

Letting God Fight Your Battles

In life, we often face battles that feel overwhelming, exhausting, and impossible to overcome on our own. It could be a struggle with health, a financial burden, or an internal battle with fear and anxiety. We quickly find ourselves at the end of our strength. But what if the key to victory isn’t in our own power but in surrendering and allowing God to fight for us? One of the most powerful stories in the Bible about surrendering to God’s strength comes from the book of Exodus when Moses lifts his hands during the battle against the Amalekites. Today, I would like to revisit this biblical account and highlight how it teaches us to lift our hands to God in our own battles.

The Israelites were in the wilderness when they were attacked by the Amalekites at Rephidim. In Exodus 17:8-13, Moses commands Joshua to gather some men and go out to fight the enemy. Meanwhile, Moses, along with Aaron and Hur, goes to the top of a hill to oversee the battle. Moses raises his hands and the staff of God toward heaven, and as long as his hands are lifted, the Israelites are winning. But when he lowers them due to fatigue, the Amalekites gain the upper hand and start to win.

Seeing Moses struggle with tiredness, Aaron and Hur step in, each taking a side to hold up his hands, ensuring that they remain steady until sunset. Because of this team support, Joshua and the Israelites are able to defeat the Amalekites.

This story is about more than just physical strength; it’s about spiritual surrender. Moses lifting his hands was an act of dependence on God, a visual declaration that victory would come not by human effort alone but by God’s power. It’s a vivid picture of how, in our weakest moments, God’s strength is made perfect. Moses didn’t fight with a sword or a spear; he fought with his hands lifted high, a posture of both worship and surrender.

This same principle applies to our lives today. We face battles that can drain us physically, financially, emotionally, and spiritually. And just like Moses, we often try to fight on our own, growing weary and overwhelmed. But God never intended for us to battle alone. He calls us to lift our hands—to surrender and let Him take over.

Letting God Fight Your Battles

When we lift our hands in surrender, it’s not a sign of giving up; it’s a declaration of faith. We acknowledge that we can’t win on our own, but we serve a God who can. Let’s see how we can take Moses’ story and apply it to our battles today:

1. Acknowledge Your Need for God: Just as Moses couldn’t keep his hands up by himself, we can’t win our battles alone either. We need to recognize our need for God’s help and acknowledge that He is our source of strength.

2. Surround Yourself with Support: Aaron and Hur didn’t let Moses struggle alone. They stepped in on both sides to help him. In the same way, we need people around us who will lift us up in prayer, support us, and remind us of God’s promises when we feel like giving up. No man is an island, and we should never forget that God uses people to carry out His mission on earth.

3. Lift Your Hands in Surrender and Praise: Our posture matters. Lifting our hands is a physical act that symbolizes surrender and praise. When we lift our hands in worship, we’re not just letting go of control. We’re actively inviting God into our situation. It is only when we surrender and let go that God can move in the situation. Like the saying goes, “Let go and let God”.

4. Trust God to Deliver the Victory: The battle belongs to the Lord (1 Samuel 17:47). Our job is not to fight with our own strength but to trust that God will deliver the victory in His way and in His timing.

The story of Moses, Aaron, and Hur is a powerful reminder that we don’t have to fight our battles alone. In the moments when we feel weak and weary, God calls us to lift our hands in surrender, allowing Him to take over. It’s in our surrender that God’s strength is made perfect. When you are your weakest, is the time God is the strongest in you.

Just like the Israelites defeated the Amalekites with Moses’ hands lifted high, we, too, can experience victory when we lift our hands high to God. The battles we face may be tough, but they’re not ours to fight alone. Let God take the lead allowing His power to prevail.

So, whatever battle you’re facing today, remember this: Lift your hands, surrender your struggle, and let God fight for you. He’s never lost a battle, and He won’t start with yours. Please share with anyone who may need this reminder.

Cynthia