Day 42: Spiritual Food in Quarantine

“Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed.”

We can learn a lot from the story in Exodus 17. Amalek represents pure evil. It came and attacked Israel. Verse 16 says that because a hand is lifted up against the throne of the Lord, He will be at war against the Amalekites through the ages.

As Joshua and his army fought on the frontlines, Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill to intercede in prayer. As long as Moses’ hands were up, they were winning, but whenever his hands were down, the enemy was winning. He needed Aaron and Hur to help him hold his arms steady. The Hebrew word for steady is the same word for faith. It was steady faith in God that gave Israel the victory. Some trust in chariots, some in horses, but we trust in God.

Just before the battle, the Israelites were fighting against each other and questioning God. That is not the right state to be in for a spiritual battle. St. Peter instructs us to be of sound mind and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer (to be prepared for battle), and above all, to keep fervent in love for one another.

Let us keep these things in mind as we fight an invisible killer virus that is attacking us.