What do a staff, a stone, and a scroll have to do with each other? Not much, really, unless you are familiar with the story of Moses and Joshua in their fight against the Amalekites. In this narrative, Moses goes up to the top of a mountain with the staff of God in his hands, while Joshua goes to battle (Ex 17:9). Every time Moses raised his hands, Joshua overcame the Amalekites, but as soon as Moses lowered his hands, the Amalekites would take the advantage. As the day wore on, Moses’ energy began to fail, so a stone was put under him so he could continue his work strategically. Aaron and Hur rushed to support Moses and, each taking one arm, helped Moses hold his hands up until sunset. When Joshua overcame the Amalekites, the Lord told Moses to write these events on a scroll as a battle to be remembered. Moses built an altar and called it, “The Lord is my Banner” (Ex 17:15). Victory had been attained.
So, what do a staff, a stone, and a scroll have to do with each other? A lot. If I had to choose one word to answer that question, it would be prayer. For it is prayer that becomes both the source and the force necessary to succeed in our mission. Just like Moses held the staff of God in his hand, each one of us has been given the Word of God to uphold with fidelity, as we find guidance and direction for our lives and seek God’s will through prayer.
Unity in Prayer Glorifies God
However, holding the Word of God and praying alone is not enough. We need people around us who will support us, help us remain steady, and provide the encouragement needed to go on when we grow weary. It is the community and people of God that become the source of strength as we find others to join us, just like Aaron and Hur when they gave Moses a stone so they could finish the task together.
Yet, even when the community gathers to fulfill our mission and grow in the fellowship of the Spirit, it is the faithfulness of God that allows our prayer to be effective. The faithfulness of God is the scroll. We can look back and remember all those moments and situations that seemed impossible, and we can remember how God turned circumstances around because He is faithful. As God’s plans continue to unfold in the future, we can rest assured that it is His faithfulness and our partnership through prayer that will help us achieve the purpose for which we were created and bring glory to God in every task He calls us to complete.
As we approach the National Day of Prayer, this passage reminds us that God will continue to be glorified among the nations. His invitation, just like for Moses and Joshua, is for us to seek Him in all generations so that people may know God. The power of prayer is embodied and observed in the strength of unity among the people of God. But more than that, the power of prayer rests on the faithfulness of God, who alone is our Banner, the One who brings us together under His leadership to fight the good fight of the faith so He may be glorified in every nation and in every generation.
Biography
Dr. Simone Twibell is Associate Professor in the School of Ministry at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Prior to her time here at PBA, Dr. Twibell served as associate professor of Intercultural Studies at Olivet Nazarene University for seven years. Previously, she served as a pastor in Illinois and Kentucky for over a decade and as a volunteer short-term missionary in Central America for three years.
Dr. Twibell is the author of two books, Intimacy with God: an Invitation to Prayer (2023) and Boundary-Breaking Mission: the Gospel in a Diverse and Fragmented World (2023). She speaks Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian and has traveled throughout Central America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, leading mission trips and serving as an interpreter in Global Theology conferences. But more than anything, she enjoys spending time with her two children, Lucas and Sofia.
