Exodus 31 is turning out to be an inspiring passage of study around this Father’s Day, for here we find some leadership examples in two men specifically chosen and empowered by God for a specific task. Included with these men are the names of their fathers about whom not much is known, but we may infer a great deal from them by virtue of their just being mentioned. Their names remain timeless for a reason.
Hur is Bazalel’s grandfather and has served as an assistant to Moses and Aaron. His name can be given two meanings by virtue of translation. First, there is the noun, “hole/hollow/a depression.” Now there is a difference in what is meant by “hole:” there is the hole of a cobra (Isaiah 11:8) or an underground prison (Isaiah 42:22) and there is a valley-kind-of-“hole,” such as the depressed place between two hills, like Gilead (Numbers 33:32). These are secondary definitions. The root word is a verb which means, “by or grow white, pale.” Here in this passage it is used as a proper masculine noun, a person’s name. So which is it? How are we to think of the guy? What can we learn from him?
Let’s stick with what we know: he was an assistant to Moses and Aaron. “What kind of leadership example is that?” one may wonder. Remember what we learned of Bazalel: he was not given the gift of spiritual oversight, but the gift of manual arts and mechanical operations. Bezalel had to have received this kind of training from somewhere and one must conclude it was from a person like his grandfather. Hur was below the greats, much like a valley between two mountains.
When the Israelites fought against the Amalekites he was to hold his hands up. Scripture records, “Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed.” (Ex 17:11) How did the battle fare? “But Moses' hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.” (Ex 17:12) Notice who was there, holding up Moses’ hands. Because he was under Moses, as it were, “Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.” (Ex 17:13)
When you think of leadership, what do you envision? How low do you see yourself? When you think of those above you, are you obedient to God in your lowly position that enables them to do what God has called them to do? What has God called you to do among the spiritual giants?
When we are born again, we are born of God’s Holy Spirit, cleansed from sin and we are free to do everything we should as instructed in God’s Word. We are children of God and are to humbly walk in His Word. The work we do in obedience to His Word is noble work. “How, exactly is it noble work?” Glad you asked. First, it is noble because our motive to serve is our love for Christ. Second, our work is noble because the objective of our service is the glory of God. Finally, our work is noble because it is “white;” that is, our work is pure—without ulterior motive.
No matter where you are “on the totem pole,” be sure to encourage those who are leading all around you—let them know how they are valuable to you and your ministry.
