The Greatest of These is Love

When Moses was on the mountain holding up the rod over the battlefield, he was not alone. Aaron was on one side, Hur on the other.

We know much about Aaron, but, who was Hur?

 

Little is written about him personally. His name means "hole." He helped Moses keep his hands up and steady during the battle with the Amalekites. (Exodus 17:10-12) He was left with Aaron to supervise the people when Moses went up to meet with God. (Exodus 24:14) He was the father of Uri and the grandfather of Bezaleel, the one God called to do the work of the tabernacle. (Exodus 31:2; 35:30; 38:22; 1 Chronicles 2:20) Interestingly, the work of Bezaleel, Hur's grandson, was so well done, that items were used many years later in the temple that Solomon built. (2 Chronicles 1:5) Also, Matthew Henry wrote that some "think" Hur may have been Moses' brother-in-law, Miriam's husband.

 

Whoever he was, Hur was undoubtedly a servant of the Lord. As such, he stood beside others to uphold them. And, we can imply, that as a father and, at the very least, a grandfather, he had a life of influence. That influence may have played a huge part in the Lord's calling of Bezaleel. Hur set an example of obedience and of endurance. Standing beside Moses, who by the way was sitting, Hur upheld Moses' arm, which meant he was also holding up his own. He was positioned that way until the sun set and the battle was won. And as you read the passages in Exodus, it is very clear that Bezaleel echoed what was modeled to him by his grandfather.

 

I looked a bit deeper into the meaning of the name "Hur." Outright in the Hebrew, Chuwr means a hole. But Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon also notes that it is not just any hole, but that of a viper. Hmm…

 

It seems to me that Hur was a man you didn't mess with. And, that would mean the enemy, too.

 

Perhaps we can infer that what he did in public was a reflection of who he was in character—a man who knew and trusted his God. Knowing what little is recorded about him, perhaps we can also conclude that his influence was also that of bringing his children and grandchildren before the Lord, giving them the legacy of prayer.

 

 

That is what you do, praying mom. Your influence over your children and grandchildren goes beyond your doing to your very being. It goes to the character of the Lord God you serve being seen in you, not just in public, but also behind closed doors. Additionally, it is your influence on their lives as you bring your children to Him in prayer. Those prayers will influence their lives long after your name, like Hur's, drops out of recorded history.

 

Above all, the one character of the Lord God that makes the hugest impact on your children is love. As Paul wrote, there are three things that abide forever—faith, hope, and love, "but the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13 NASB)

 

We love, because He first loved us.

1 John 4:19 (NASB)