Week 1, Power to Pray, Day 1: A Spiritual Purpose
(Read Exodus 17:8–15)
Why pray? If God wants to
do something, does He not have the freedom to do whatever He pleases? Of course
He does. But the opposite of that question is equally true: God has the freedom
to NOT act, even if it would please Him, unless and until we pray.
In the battle found in our reading today, there is the
first reference to Joshua, whose name is the same in Hebrew as Jesus: Yeshua.
Jesus and Joshua mean “God is our Salvation.” Joshua is Moses’s assistant
(Exod.24:13) or “servant”. Like Joshua, Jesus is often revealed in the Bible as
God’s Suffering Servant (Isaiah 42:1-9, 52:13ff; Matthew 12:18; Acts 3:26,
4:27, 30), serving God by ministering to humanity’s need.
The Amalekites were first mentioned in battle in Genesis
14:7. They are last mentioned as being defeated by King David (1 Samuel 30:18–20).
Numbers 24:18 states that Amalek was the first to attack Israel. They were a
nomadic people, descendants of Esau, and understandably chose to come against
the nation of Israel.
This battle came after Moses struck the rock at God’s command and an estimated 2.5 million people miraculously received water. Water, a prized commodity for this band of Bedouin shepherds, certainly got the attention of Amalek.
The Amalekites set their battle against the Israelites,
who were not trained in war and had precious little in battle armor or weapons.
As a result, Moses knew that the best weapon for Israel would be intercessory
prayer. He also knew that he could not do it alone.
As we study this portrait of Moses, Aaron, and Hur, we
will see five ways that the power of prayer is released. Today we see the
purpose for prayer. J. Vernon McGee, in his plain-spoken way, said it this way,
“As Israel could not overcome Amalek by their own efforts, neither can you nor
I overcome the flesh by our own efforts…This is the picture we have in the
wilderness as Israel and Amalek war against each other.” (Thru The Bible with
J. Vernon McGee, Volume 1, page 258)
The purpose of prayer is that we only have a victory over
our enemies by God’s ultimate weapon—and humanity’s greatest power—portrayed in
Moses’s uplifted hands, holding the rod of God and aided by his two intercessors,
Aaron and Hur.
In your prayer notebook, write down some of the purposes
God has in getting his people to pray. Answer these questions: Who do you call
on to pray for you? When have you been called on to pray for others? How do you
feel when someone prays specifically for you and your needs?
Pray this prayer to God: “Heavenly Father: I confess absolutely that I am wholly inadequate to
pray as I should. Thank You for giving me your Holy Spirit present within me to
bring my requests to You. Thank You that Your purpose and power is more than
enough to meet my petitions. In Jesus’s name, Amen.”
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