"Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened" - Exodus 32:14 (NIV).
Initially it appeared Moses was a man of few words, slow to speak. After all when the Lord called him to go and urge Pharaoh to release the Israelites, he objected, pointing “Since I speak with faltering lips, why would Pharaoh listen to me?” (Exodus 6:30). To equip him the Lord aided him, "You are to say everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his country" (Exodus 7:2). Aaron was supposed to be a more fluent speaker!
Now we all have seen that child whom everyone says is of few words. But there comes a day when he is stepped on his foot or there surfaces a matter so urgent that he can't hold it no more. Suddenly a torrent of words bursts out of the normally quiet child. And no one can believe it is the same person!
Such was the case when once God had in mind to exterminate the Israelites because of their stubborn rebellion (Exodus 32). Suddenly the man of "few words" had a lot to cry out. "But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. “Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people" (Exodus 32:11-13). God heard Moses's passionate plea and relented ( vv 14). The man of "few words" had found all to turn the hand of God.
How about you now! May be generally you are a person of "few words"! But you know there is that matter pressing you down that you can't hold it no more. Go to God and pour it all out before the Almighty without holding back. Don't worry about the words, for there are deep down there and the Lord, as was with Moses, hears our cries!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, with all my heart I pour out a pressing need to you Almighty one and may you save the situation bringing it to your glory, as you did for Moses, 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!
