In the Writing World, Are You a Moses or an Aaron?

By Lori Hatcher @LoriHatcher2 

Some compare writing a book (or a blog post, an article, or a poem) to giving birth. Others use the more picturesque description of a journey or a path. The most honest among us refer to it as a battle.

 

Moses, the author of five books of the Bible, knew about writing—and about battles. Exodus 17 describes a skirmish the Israelites had with the Amalekites.

 

“Moses said to Joshua, ‘Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.’

 

 “So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.

 

 “When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset” (Ex. 17:9-12).

 

In the writing life, sometimes God calls us to be a Moses. Other times He calls us to be an Aaron.

 

Most of us have at least one Moses in our writing circles—the one with a bestselling book (or three), a platform big enough to support Texas stadium, and a heart to match it. They organize conferences and write books on craft. They lead the way by their faith and example. They forge paths in the writing wilderness.

 

We want to hate them, but we can’t. They’re just too darn loveable.

 

Sometimes, we get to be a Moses—on a smaller scale. Our freelance writing gets noticed by a publisher. Someone invites us to speak at a women’s retreat. The book we’ve been laboring over for years finally gets contracted. 

 

Most of the time, however, we’re Aarons. Aaron introduced Moses to the leaders of Israel and vouched for his credibility. He held Moses’ staff and stood beside him as he approached Pharaoh. He counseled him as he led others. He held up Moses’ arms when he grew weary. 

 

Aarons in the writing world offer support and share resources. They introduce their friends to their contacts and vouch for their writing ability. They stand beside them as they approach editors and publishers. They share their friends’ posts, recommend their articles, and help them with their social media. Aarons bring balloons and chocolate when the contract finally appears and bake cupcakes for the book launch. 

 

Aarons lift their friends’ hands to the keyboard when they’re too discouraged to type another word. They support them with their unflagging belief in their writing. They refuse to let them quit.

 

Sometimes God calls us to be a Moses, perched at the top of the mountain with God’s glory shining around us. Other times He calls us to be an Aaron, standing beside a friend in the midst of a writing battle and holding up their weary arms. 

 

Both roles are honorable. Both roles advance God’s kingdom. Both roles make God smile.

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Lori Hatcher loves God even more than she loves chocolate—and that’s a lot. Since He saved her at age 18, she’s been on a relentless journey to know and love Him more. Her deepest desire is for her others to join her on the journey. As an author, blogger, and women’s ministry speaker, she writes for Our Daily Bread, Guideposts, Revive Our Hearts, andCrosswalk.com. She’s written three devotional books, including Refresh Your Faith, Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible, and Hungry for God…Starving for Time, Five-Minute Devotions for Busy Women. Connect with her at LoriHatcher.com or on Facebook, Twitter (@lorihatcher2) or Pinterest (Hungry for God).