The book of Exodus in chapter 17 verses 8 to 13, records the war that the Israelites led by Joshua fought against Amalek. During the course of this war, Moses who had commanded Joshua to fight, goes on to the top a hill, along with his brother Aaron and Hur and he held his hand high [towards God in heaven] and as long as his hands were held high, the Israelites prevailed and each time Moses let down his hands, the Amalekites prevailed. While this account may seems to be odd to some, there is a hidden treasure that we can learn from the gesture that is mentioned.
Holding up ones hands for a prolonged period of time is not a easy undertaking by any chance. The force of gravity will pull our hands down. You can try this yourself, hold both your hands high over your shoulders as if they are stretched out to touch the ceiling and count as to how long you can hold them high before gravity pulls them down.
For the Spiritual war to be won in our lives, we are to hold our hands high in praises of and in petition to the Almighty God and Creator. By doing so we demonstrate that we persevere against the elements that pull us down. Only when we let the forces of life pull our hands from adoring and appealing to God, the enemy can have victory over us. To win in the Spiritual warfare that we are engaged, we must lift up our hands in appeal and adoration of the very one who made our hands.
Exodus 17:8-13 (KJV)
8 Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.
9 And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.
10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
12 But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
13 And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.