In June 1967, the Beatles released a revolutionary album, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” The album remained number one in the U.S. for 15 weeks. In the UK it stayed at number one for 27 weeks. It continues as the third-best-selling album in the UK, according to Wikipedia. 

One of my favorite singles from the album is entitled, “With a Little Help from My Friends.” As a young teen, the song reminded me that I needed good friends to help me on my life journey. Strong friends who believed the way I did.  Sensitive friends who could see my needs and respond. The song also challenged me to be a friend of purpose and comfort.

The story of Moses, Joshua, Aaron and Hur in Exodus 17 also reveals the wisdom of friendship and the importance of friends when we go through battles.   

Exodus 17:9-13, NKJV  “And Moses said unto Joshua, ‘Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand’. So, Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.”

Moses was a great leader, and everyone knew he had the ear of God.  But in this passage we clearly see the need and importance of his friends in this battle.  Aaron and Hur were not only friends but observant friends. When they realized he was in need they found a stone for Moses to sit on. They didn’t wait for him to ask for help!  They each held up his hands and provided the steadiness for victory.  Joshua was in the valley with his soldiers fighting the Amalekites in hand to hand combat. Moses was on the mountain fighting in the Spirit for the victory.  In every battle we fight, it takes both natural and spiritual warfare to win. 

In the new testament this picture is repeated in Romans 8:34 NLT, “Who then will condemn us? No one — for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.” Jesus Christ is our “friend” in heaven. While we are like Joshua, fighting battles on this earth, so is Jesus Christ like Moses, on the heavenly mountain interceding for us to prevail. I can remember as a child hearing the hymn, “What a friend we have in Jesus.” I was amazed at the concept of being friends with God. I didn’t understand the idea of intercession and support during a crisis that could be provided by a risen Savior. How sweet to “get by with a little help from my friend.”

So, in this analogy, who are the new testament Aaron and Hur? They are our earthly friends who agree with us and the plan of God for our life. Friends who walk in tandem with us during the battle, agreeing with God’s word and providing comfort.  

Please understand I am not advocating entitlement. You can’t require your friends to support you during your battles. Support and intercession flows from love and loyalty. If you haven’t been a friend it is hard to have a friend. You don’t have the right to control, shame or require your friends to assist you. Aaron and Hur voluntarily went up the mountain and served Moses by observation of the situation. When someone says, “Just tell me what to do” they could be operating out of obligation instead of love, loyalty and friendship.

Realize the value of the Moses, Aaron and Hur in your life. You will always have victory when you get “a little help from your friends!”