Hands Wey Dey Up

On top one hill, one old man stand with im arms raise up to di sky. Im shoulders dey pain am. Im hands dey shake. And down for di valley, everything depend on whether dat hands go stay up.

Israel still camp for Rephidim, where water just pour comot from rock. Di people na tired travellers, no be soldiers. Most of dem dey make bricks for Egypt only few weeks before. And then, without warning, di Amalekites attack. Dem be desert people, and dem come against Israel for di wilderness. Later, di book of Deuteronomy remember how dem attack: from back, dem dey pick di ones wey dey last for di line, di weak and di tired wey no fit catch up.

Moses turn to one young man wey dem dey call Joshua. Na di first time di Bible mention am, but e no go be di last. Choose some men for us, Moses talk, and go out fight Amalek. Tomorrow I go stand on top di hill with di stick of God for my hand. So Joshua gather di men and go down enter di valley. And Moses climb di hill, with two people for im side. Im brother Aaron, and one man wey im name na Hur.

From di top of di hill, Moses fit see everything. E lift im hands, e hold di stick of God, and down below, Israel begin win. But arms dey tire. Slowly, slowly, im hands come down. And as dem come down, di battle turn, and Amalek begin win. Moses lift dem again. Israel push go front. Im arms drop. Israel fall back. Up. Down. Up. Down. Di text no ever talk say Moses arms dey do magic. Di hands wey e lift and di stick of God na sign say Israel strength come from di Lord, no be from sword. And Moses no fit hold dem up by imself.

Aaron and Hur see wetin dey happen. Dem no give speech. Dem find one stone, roll am come, and Moses sit down on top am. Then dem stand for im two sides, Aaron for one side, Hur for di other side, and dem hold up im hands. One arm each. And so im hands stay steady, through di whole long afternoon, until sun go down. Down for di valley, Joshua and im men stand firm, and with di edge of sword dem defeat Amalek and im army. Victory, no be because Moses strong reach, but because e no need to be strong alone.

When e finish, di Lord tell Moses make e write am down for book, as something wey dem must remember, and make sure say Joshua hear am. Then Moses build altar. E give am name. Di Lord na my banner. For battle, dem dey lift banner high so that everybody go see where to gather. Moses don learn say Israel banner no be flag or weapon. Na di Lord imself.

Dis short passage carry one quiet first. When God tell Moses make e write di victory for book as something to remember, na di first time for di Bible wey God tell anybody to write something down. People wey be slaves before dey become people wey get written memory. And di young man wey dem tell make e listen, Joshua, go one day lead Israel enter di promised land.

Hands Wey Dey Up. You go find am for Exodus chapter seventeen, verse eight to sixteen. Even Moses no fit hold im arms up for di whole day. E need Aaron and Hur, and dem dey ready. So see one question wey you go carry dey go. Who get tired arms wey you fit help hold up dis week?