Just Dan Grant

At first glance, some of you may have thought the title had a typo in it , and others thought I was making some kind of a statement that was rather unbecoming of a Youth Pastor. Hopefully you caught my intention on the first go around – but naturally I will explain myself.

One of the most impactful Bible stories of my life, and time in the ministry, is found in Exodus 17. Moses, the chosen leader of the children of Israel, sends Joshua, the mighty warrior and eventual successor to Moses, out to fight with the Amalekites. As the story goes, Moses stood on top of the hill while Joshua went and fought against them with the men he chose. While Moses kept his hands raised, Joshua prevailed against them, but as soon as his hands lowered, Joshua began to lose the battle. As Moses tired, they put a stone under him to sit on, and Aaron – Moses’s right hand man, and High Priest of Israel, rushed to his side to keep his arms raised. These three men – Moses, Aaron, and Joshua are at the forefront of the molding and shaping of the nation of Israel. Moses takes them out of bondage and to the promised land, Aaron leads the worship, and Joshua makes the dream a reality by taking them into the promised land. From Exodus to Joshua, they run the show!

But don’t forget that in this story, there is another dude that shows up when Aaron does.

Hur.

Not much is known about Hur, and half of what is know is speculation. We know he was there for this battle, and he shows up seven chapters later in Exodus 24 when Moses goes up to Sinai again. He tells everyone: I am headed up the mountain, if you have any issues, talk with Aaron. Oh yeah, Hur is there too. You can ask him if Aaron isn’t around or he’s making another golden calf or something. (Obviously I am paraphrasing and exaggerating). But regardless, at this battle, he makes his debut.

We know someone got the stone for Moses to sit on. He/they aren’t mentioned, Moses wasn’t paying attention to that, but if I had to put money on it – Hur had a hand in getting it there.

So he helps roll the stone up behind Moses, Moses takes a seat on this nice comfy rock and raises his hands up to the sky. In the valley below, Joshua brings the smack down once again on the Amalekites. Aaron comes alongside Moses and grabs his right arm (I guess). Hur is standing there looking at Moses, Aaron is standing there looking at Hur and he gives him that look that says “Bro. What are you doing? Grab his other arm!” Hur snatches Moses’ left arm and braces it for him, so Joshua can finish mopping the floor with these bums.

The battle won and the day over, Moses chronicles the story and erects an altar in praise to God. He gives Joshua a high five, they crash after a hard days work, and move on to the next adventure.

Hur goes back to what he does best. Whatever needs to be done. There’s no glory in it, hardly any recognition for it, but it brings everything together and the job gets done because of it. The children of Israel move forward and they are one step closer to God’s will.

A lot of guys want to be Moses. The big Kahuna, the chief, numero uno, the head honcho, Captain of the ship. Obviously someone needs to be. Someone needs to be the guy at the “top” that is getting his marching orders from God himself. The ship needs a Captain, the group needs a leader, the flock needs a shepherd. It’s got to be somebody, but it can’t be everybody. Don’t forget that even Moses himself spent some time at the low end of the totem pole until he was ready to be “The Guy”.

Wouldn’t be too bad to be Aaron either. He led the worship – the sacrifices, and offerings to God. He made sure all the steps were followed so that people could experience forgiveness and offer their praise and thanksgiving to God. He was front and center in the limelight, and was the best dressed around. Probably the cleanest too. I’m sure he smelled good for the services. He’s also Moses’ brother – and right hand man. You almost put the two together without thinking about it – Moses and Aaron, Aaron and Moses.

Or Joshua! He’s like the Captain America of the Israelites. All around good guy who is being groomed for bigger and better things. He follows Moses around all day long – if Moses were to have suddenly stopped walking, I bet Joshua would have run into the back of him. He’s intelligent, strong and capable, a natural leader, go – getter, and he gets to write the sequel to the best seller “The Torah”. Wow. What a guy!

But Hur?

First – arguably the worst name for a dude ever. Never came across that one in the baby name for boys.

Second – no one knows what he does. What’s his role? His title? Is he second in command? Third even? Both times we see him he’s hanging near Aaron – is he Assistant Worship Leader or Assistant to the Worship Leader? Does he have one specific job, or does he wear several hats? Is this a paid position or is he a volunteer?

Who knows. For that matter, who cares? I have the oddest feeling that Hur didn’t. Maybe he was just a guy that was there at the right place and the right time. Or he had a role and it was predominantly behind the scenes. The point is, he did what needed to be done, when it needed to be done, and he got the job done. He stood there all day holding Moses’ arm up with his face downwind of Moses’ armpit. All day in the sun, on his feet, until Joshua claimed victory, Moses wrote the story down for man to read forever, and Aaron lead the praise to God for the victory.

Hey – if you’re that guy in that ministry who keeps getting the nasty jobs, you’re wearing more hats than a coat rack, and the last time you got a “thank you” was in line at Chick-fila, consider yourself in good company. And stop whining about it. We can’t all be Moses, Aaron, or Joshua. Someone has to be around in the wings to make sure those guys can be who they need to be. You may not get any recognition on this side of eternity – so what! If you are living for that, you are in the wrong profession my friend.

So how do we find contentment in being that guy for a season, or even for life?

• Do what is in front of you to do. We tend to look at God’s will in a five to ten year plan, but I find it’s better to look at it on a daily basis. Sure, big picture, God wants me to do this or that or be this or that – but what does He need me to do today. Lead the congregation? Check. Clean up after the congregation? Double check. I am not saying you have to do everything, but don’t dismiss the necessary because it isn’t the preferred or ideal.
• Find contentment. I told my Pastor years ago that I would do anything he asked, from scrubbing toilets to teaching Sunday school. Maybe one of these blogs will be dedicated to the horror stories that revolve around things that have happened with toilets on this property. Whether it’s the best or the worst – I can honestly say that I have never gone home hating what I do. The little terrible thing you have to do on Wednesday makes the big awesome things possible on Sunday.
• Encourage others. I do think one of Hur’s biggest wins in this story is being there for Moses. He encouraged and lifted him up physically so he could keep pressing on. Be that for your coworkers, boss, fellow Pastors, etc. Know their vices and be a blessing to them when you can. If they are shouldering a load that is too heavy – help! Who cares if it isn’t your area! A need seen is an assignment given.

What an awesome thing we have to be a part of! Don’t lose sight of that!