Men of Encouragement | Men's Devotionalનમૂનો

A Friend in a Brother

Have you ever prayed that God would send you someone to encourage you in your journey?

I like the story of Moses in Exodus 3-4. He’s doing his shepherding thing when God shows up and calls him to what seems impossible.

How does Moses react?

“Please send someone else” (Exodus 4:13 NIV).

And how does God react?

With a detail that I think He wanted to keep as a surprise.

That detail: Aaron, Moses’ brother, who would be with him for encouragement, support, and to fill in the gaps in Moses’ character and gifts.

It’s interesting how Aaron wasn’t ever called to support Moses the shepherd, but Moses the leader. They hadn’t seen each other in 40 years, but God knew exactly when Moses would need his brother's encouragement.

I can relate to this, as it’s only been in the last 10 years of my life that I have built better relationships with my brothers. I am younger than them, so by the time I was “cool” in their eyes, they were at a very different stage in life. Add to that that I left home for college, got married, and have lived my own life, too.

But the amazing thing is that right when I needed it, God brought my brothers and me back together, and now we hang out, laugh, and share life together.

The encouragement of a brother is a unique one. You share a lot of things in common: genetics, background, history, and understanding of situations without sharing a lot of details.

It’s interesting how God didn’t send Moses’ sister Miriam, the oldest of the three siblings, even though that would have been amazing, too. He sent the brother. The one who would stand beside Moses in leadership, struggle, and victory.

I often try to imagine what the first meeting between Moses and Aaron was like after 40 years apart. The long hug. The running tears. The deep love.

To be a man of encouragement is to maybe start with someone close to you—your own brother(s).

So be like Aaron. You might just find the friendship you need.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for my brother(s). Help me to be the encouraging brother they need me to be. Amen.

Reflection: How can you reach out to your brother(s) this week? Send that text, make that call, or go for coffee and enjoy each other’s company.