“Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” (1 Chronicles 16:11).
Moses had one difficult assignment. After crossing the Red Sea his troubles had just begun. Within his very camp rose a fierce opposition contesting his direction of the planned route to the Promised land. First, his inner circle stood up to him. “Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” ( Numbers 12:1-2).
And then there also was, “Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council” ( Numbers 16: 1-3).
When we are faced with life’s obstacles, there can be a number of ways to respond. Perhaps we might think of physically taking on those who are giving us trouble. Maybe, depending on our personalities, we could withdrawal and brood, waiting to bite. Least to say, everyone handles problems in a particular way.
Faced with colossal problems, Moses did what could be instructive to us here. He did not attack his opponents or withdraw to himself. Instead, he went up to God! Moses, “asked the Lord, “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me?” ( Numbers 11:11). Here, we see that when faced with a crowd of challenges, he had only one option: run to God!
None of us is immune to problems. Challenges will always come our way, and sometimes from the least expected quarters. For Moses it all started with his family members and then on to powerful leaders. But as with Moses, we could borrow a leaf, and take our problems to God. Sometimes it might mean withdrawing to be with God alone for a certain period, to wait on him. For as it worked for Moses, then why not for you!
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, faced with life’s challenges you have given us a way out and that is, instead of withdrawing into ourselves, come to you, spend time with you alone, talk to you, listen to you, and, find solution for the way forward, to your glory, all we pray in Jesus’s name.
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17/05/2024 - 18/05/2024 All day“And I in righteousness I shall see your face; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with seeing your likeness” (Psalm 17:15)
One of the defining aspects we see in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ is that He began the day with prayer. “Very early in the morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). As he was always surrounded by crowds and after such a busy day before of preaching and engaging the Pharisees in debates this must have been a therapeutic moment for Christ when he would have some good time to himself.
But there was also more. For Jesus being away in a secluded place would also mean a chance to pour out His heart to God, meditate in quietness, plan for the day ahead and listen to the Father. Jesus must have looked up to this moment every day knowing its benefits. Conversations with His Father must have been real and intimate, bringing a certain soothing and uplifting of His spirit. You do not wake up and stick to something on a daily basis that is a drag – this must have been his best time of the day!
Martin Luther the leader of the protestant reformation is reputed to once have said, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” Here is the point. In the olden days before the arrival of locomotive transport those who were setting out for a long journey on foot had to start early with the first cock crow before the punishing sun came out. One of the things they had to start with also was a good meal, which was fuel needed to give them energy through the long walk to their destiny.
There are no rules about waking up to pray as first thing- or even saying prayer at a defined hour of the day. God is everywhere and ever with us. He is accessible at any time of the day. But there is something special about prioritizing our lives that the first thing we do is to talk to God. Just like the early traveller we need fuel, for the long day ahead!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a joy and privilege to make time at the start of any day, talk and hear from you, for the power I need through the day, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
