“Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory” ( Psalm 50:15)
There is a cliché saying, “between a rock and hard place!” It often implies one who finds himself in a difficult place, where there is almost no way out. If you want to get a sense of that, picture the situation the Israelites were in soon after Pharaoh of Egypt consented, against all objections, that they leave Egypt. Now as they left rejoicing, “So the Egyptians pursued them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and overtook them camping by the sea beside Pi Hahiroth, before Baal Zephon” (Exodus 14:9). In front was the Red Sea and all around the panic stricken Israelites, saw the ferocious armies of Pharaoh, eager for a kill.
As you can imagine, “So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord.” ( vv 10). But that was not for everyone. All of us have a way how we deal with difficult moments but some of us find it easy to look for someone to blame. So for some Moses became the object of hate. “Then they said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians?” ( vv 11-12).
Moses was too in difficult place. But then the Lord gave him an answer for the panic stricken Israelites. “And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still,and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will accomplish for you today” ( vv 13).
As the Egyptians dived for the attack, suddenly, “the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them. Not so much as one of them remained” ( vv 27-28).
Today, you too might be between a rock and hard place. What to do? Other than losing confidence and hope, finding someone to blame, the word of God says, “The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace” ( vv 14).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, sometimes one finds himself between a rock and hard place, but as you once did for the Israelites against the pursuing armies of Pharaoh, I turn to you for deliverance, this I 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!
