A young boy was trying to move a large stone from his father’s garden. His father saw the struggle the little lad was having and walked over to him. The boy said “Daddy, I can’t move this stone, it’s too heavy for me. I’ve tried everything!” His father replied, “No, son, you haven’t tried everything. You haven’t asked me to help you!” These chapters of Exodus contain many examples of Moses and the people facing seemingly impossible challenges. In every situation, God very plainly made it necessary for the people to ask him to help. It’s summed up perfectly in Exodus 18:18, “…the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone.” 

Perhaps someone reading this is in a similar struggle right now. You have a “heavy thing” that’s too much for you. I am dealing with one of the “heaviest things” of my life as I write this. You are no doubt asking God to help, but so far it seems like he hasn’t. Me too. But we must not stop praying. In Exodus 17 we read how Moses defeated Amalek by keeping his arms raised to God during the entire battle. If he dropped his arms, which he did because he grew weary, Joshua and his army started to lose. In order to win, Moses needed help keeping his arms raised. God was reminding Moses and the people that the battle belonged to him. I think that’s a great example of the importance of not growing weary of prayer, even getting help from friends like Moses did, continually keeping our arms of supplication raised to God. Remember, when the “thing is too heavy,” the battle is his.

When God is all we have, God will be all we need.

Rev. Dr. Harold Hazen