Faith in Layers--by Linden Malki

The Israelites who came out of Egypt--through the Sea, fed on manna, and given water out of a rock, facing a wilderness--found themselves under attack.  Their attackers were the Amelekites, a tribe who were descended from Esau.  Moses called on his young assistant Joshua to raise defenders from the Israelites.  This is the first layer in the defense--as important as it was to break this attack, it was not the only thing on their side.

Moses told Joshua that he would be on the hill overlooking the battle, with the staff of God. This was the second layer. When Moses raised his staff, the Israelites were successful in their defense. However, Moses couldn't hold up his hands long enough for the battle to be finished, so another layer of faith was needed. Moses was not alone! He had his brother Aaron with him, and an associate named Hur. (We don't know much about him, just that he was from the tribe of Judah, his grandson Bezalel was later asked to be in charge of the decorations on the Tabernacle, and he may have been related to Caleb.)  We see him with Aaron later when Moses goes up the mountain to get instructions from God.  Aaron and Hur were the next layer in the faith required--they found a stone for Moses to sit on while they held his hands, with the staff, showing God's strength. The army went on with confidence, knowing  that God was on their side in this great adventure.  It took all the layers, working together, to provide the victory they needed.  We do hear of Hur later, when Moses went up the mountain of God and Aaron and Hur were left in charge. However, he doesn't appear to be there when the people give up on Moses and beg Aaron for their own "god".  This was a time that Aaron needed to have his backbone stiffened, and he was alone.

Later,when Moses was again challenged to provide water, he and Aaron were told to speak to the rock at Meribah.  Instead, Moses, in a fit of temper, did not remind the people to trust God for their need, but struck the rock in his own strength.  The water came, but both brothers were punished by being forbidden to enter  the promised land. Aaron died shortly after, and Moses himself was given a look from a mountaintop and then died and was buried by God outside of the land. 

As much as Moses and Aaron did, and as much as God did for the people, in the end their obedience was not enough to completely fulfill their vision.   Joshua went on to lead the Israelites into the promised land, and see them gaining control over a land that had suffered from idolatrous peoples for several centuries, some of whom were descended from Abraham's family. As much as Moses and Aaron did, there were lapses in faith and obedience--which are two sides of the same coin--that cost them part of the fullness of the promise they had started with.