Prevailing through Uplifted Hands
The Sapphire Review Vol. 2 | No. 44 • September 26, 2025
And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
(Exodus 17:11, KJV)
MOSES
In Exodus 17 we read an interesting story in history about how the Israelites overcame the Amalekites on the battlefield in Rephidim.
Of particular interest in this narrative, is that the achievement of the victory is linked with Moses’ hands being lifted into the air. Verse 111 tells us that Israel prevailed as long as his hands were raised. However, when his arms grew tired and became too heavy to hold up, Moses had to drop them for rest and to regain strength. Soon, he observed that whenever he would let down his hands to rest, the Amalekites began to gain an edge over the Israelites.
Here, we have an establishment of a type that can be built upon and given greater meaning for the new testament church. Do we have anything in the New Testament that speaks to uplifted hands that we might be able to connect back to this event with Moses and Israel?
PAUL
Consider the following verse:
“I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” (1 Timothy 2:8, KJV)
In this verse, Paul is exhorting that hands be raised in connection with prayer. Not only this, but he also instructs that those prayers be made without any trace of wrath or doubt.
A prayer that is made with doubt in regards to God’s ability to answer it is no better than one that is made from a place of vengeful wrath. Such prayers, of either sort, must not come from our lips.
TYPES
Now back to our story and a look at the types.
Moses - A type of a person who has been called by God with a particular burden to stand for some circumstance or person that requires a miracle from Jehovah. For we read in verse 9,2 that Moses went to stand on a hill with the rod of God in his hand.
Lifted Hands - Earnest prayers that are being made, without wrath and without doubting, for that which a person is standing for.3
Stone - Moses sat upon a stone when his hands became heavy.4 Christ5 is our rock and the sure foundation6 for our prayers of faith. It is through Christ that prayers are heard and by Christ that one is sustained through prolonged periods of earnest prayers.
A quick note, as we will soon see, is that the victory in the battle over spiritual forces of darkness is not purely a one-man effort. Moses was unable to keep his hands lifted by his own strength. As Moses sat upon the stone, Aaron and Hur stood on either side of him and held his arms up.
Aaron - As the high priest, represents Jesus - our great high priest7 - who strengthens us and helps us as we lift our prayers up to our Heavenly Father in His name.
Hur -Represents the brothers and sisters in the church joining together to help another in their burden of prayer.
Lastly, we will conclude by looking at types related to the sun and the book of memorial.
• Going down of the sun8 - As this marked the end of the day and corresponded to the defeat of the Amalekites, so the prayers of faith without doubting are to continue until the answer is seen and the work of God has been finished.9 Also, this indicates that the prayers may not be immediately answered, as the battle tarried until the end of the day. It may take days, months, or even years, but with uplifted hands - steady until the end - prayers in faith will prevail.
• Book of memorial10 - This victory was to be documented and rehearsed so that it would not be forgotten. So also, answered prayers serve as testimonies of God’s greatness and glory to all those around them.
CONCLUSION
With this story in mind, and Paul’s exhortation to pray with lifted hands, let us be encouraged to trust in God for answers to our prayers. In particular, those that He has given us a burden for, and those that relate to the souls of the lost, wayward, and ensnared.
Let us also remember to stand with our brothers and sisters, joining them in prayer (even for the impossible11), not wavering or doubting. Jehovah is the God of all flesh, and there is nothing too hard for Him.12
God Bless,
Charles
