“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you” - Jeremiah 29:12 (NIV).
The Bible is a book that records man’s struggle against overwhelming odds. In the process it also provides ways how we can respond whenever faced with situations that appear beyond our control. A case in point is, when finally let go from Egypt, the Israelites encountered a harsh desert, live with snakes, and well – positioned armed warrior tribes waiting to attack (Exodus 17).
Their journey was quite similar to the story of building the East African railway in 1895, to provide good passage from the coast to Uganda. At one point construction became almost impossible. The railway had to wade through warrior tribes like the Nandi and Masai who battled it all the way. And then it met the male lions of Tsavo that killed over 100 workers.
While the British relied on their guns to wage through dangerous territory, it was a different case for the Israelis who at one point run out of water. When they attacked Moses, blaming him unfairly, he had turned to God. He heard his cry for help and told him, “Go out in front of the people….take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink” (Exodus 17: 5-6).
In a later battle with the Amalekites, Moses was asked to hold the staff of God in his hand, and, “as long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning” (v 11).
The raising up of Moses hands here symbolizes the importance of prayer when faced with dangerous situations. “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.” (vv 13-14).
What situation are you facing? Does it appear impossible? What dangerous territory are you going through? Are all enemies ganging up on you. You may not have their kind of gun; but in your hands lies the most powerful weapon there is. And that is the power of prayer. Use it.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God, creator of heaven and earth, faced with a situation that appears impossible, I turn to you in prayer, for victory, this I pray in Jesus’s name!
Related upcoming events
-
18/05/2024 - 19/05/2024 All day“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” (Colossians 2:15)
Perhaps one of the most inspiring passages in the Bible with enduring lessons is where Moses pleads to Pharaoh to let the Jews go. Instead Pharaoh dared Moses if he had the power as that of a king. Challenged to “perform a miracle” Moses turned to Aaron who threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs (Exodus 7: 9-12).
What we see here is the presence of occult powers in high places, as is true even today. A common mistake by some is to deny the existence of the occult behind certain thrones or power centers, especially in instances where we find those putting on a genteel manner of social respectability. There are also those who through their education and confined exposure to the spirit realm of things, doubt the existence of occult powers. The reality is that in the world we live in the enemy is much at work. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
In this passage we see that while Pharaoh did release his snakes the staff God had placed in the hands of his messenger, Moses, was far greater and swallowed all. Here is the point. As believers we do have a far greater and mighty power to protect us from any attacks of the enemy. It is the blood of the lamb. As it is written, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony...” (Revelation 12:11).
Today whatever snakes you may encounter from anywhere be assured that you have a far greater power than of the enemy. It is the blood of Jesus. As His word says, “call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me” (Psalm 50:15).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I pray for protection from the attacks of the enemy by the blood of the lamb, this I pray in Jesus’name.
