Scripture: Exodus 3:7–10
“And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry… And I am come down to deliver them… Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh…”
There is an interesting turn in God’s conversation with Moses. God said, “I have heard their cry.” Then, “I am come down to deliver them.” But almost immediately, He turned to Moses and said, “I will send thee.” Israel prayed to God for deliverance, and a man received the assignment.
They knew what they were asking God to do, but they had no idea what their prayer would set in motion. They did not know that somewhere in Midian, God was about to call Moses and send him back to Egypt because of their cry.
Moses had settled into another life. He had a wife, children and work. Egypt was behind him. Yet one ordinary day, while he was tending his father-in-law’s sheep, God placed on him a burden that was not his own: “I have heard their cry… I will send thee.” Israel’s burden became Moses’ assignment. This is what the ministry of men looks like.
There are answers to prayer that require someone to obey God. You may never hear the conversation God has with that person. You may never know how many times God brings your situation to their heart. You may simply experience the result of their obedience.
Sometimes, God’s prompting is not always dramatic. Moses had a burning bush in his case; for you, another person may wake up with your name strongly on their mind; someone may suddenly remember a promise made to you or may feel compelled to make a call, mention your name, recommend you, defend you or give you an opportunity. What looks like a simple human action may have begun as a divine prompting.
But Moses also shows us something humbling about the people God chooses to use. When God said, “I will send thee,” Moses did not immediately say yes. He said, “Who am I?”
He saw everything that made him unsuitable for the assignment. His history was complicated; his confidence was low; returning to Egypt meant facing a place he had run away from. But God’s answer was not a long list of Moses’ qualifications. His response was simple: “Certainly I will be with thee.”
Moses was looking at himself; God was asking Moses to look at the One sending him. The rod in Moses’ hand was ordinary until it was surrendered to God’s purpose; Moses could stand before Pharaoh, but only God could break Pharaoh’s resistance; Moses could stretch his hand over the Red Sea, but only God could make a road through it. God was not looking for an extraordinary man; He was looking for a man who would go with Him.
Until Moses went, Israel remained in Egypt. God had heard them, but they were still making bricks. God had seen their affliction, but the taskmasters were still there. God had declared, “I am come down to deliver them,” but the man He was sending still had to rise and go.
There are seasons when you should not only pray about the problem, but you should also pray for the men connected to God’s answer. There are people who must rise, overcome their hesitation, and recognize that the burden God is placing on their heart is an assignment.
There are people who must speak, take a risk, leave their comfort and step into a situation that may not personally concern them. Israel could not go to Midian and drag Moses back to Egypt. They did not even know that Moses was the man. But they knew the God who knew where Moses was, and so do you.
You might have spent enough time trying to work out who can help and how it will happen. There comes a point when you must take your eyes off the limitations of your relationships and turn again to God. He knows the men; He knows how to bring them into the right place at the right time.
So don’t end today’s prayer only with, “Lord, solve my problem.” Go further, pray for your men. Some situations have continued long enough, some pharaohs have remained unchallenged long enough, and some battles have been fought alone long enough. It is time to pray: “O God, raise my men.”
PRAYER
Father, I have prayed about the situation; today I pray for the men. Where are the men You have appointed to stand with me in this season? Where are the men who must speak for me? Where are the men who must carry my matter into rooms I cannot enter? Where are the men who must remember me when decisions are being made? Where are the men who must use what You have placed in their hands to move Your purpose for my life forward?
O God, raise them !
I pray that fear will not keep them in Midian; I pray that excuses will not silence them. If comfort has made them quiet when You are calling them, disturb that comfort. If they have forgotten the assignment, remind them. If they have delayed, stir them again.
Father, raise men for me!
Raise men who will not be intimidated by pharaohs standing before me; raise men who will stand with me when standing alone is no longer enough. Raise men who will carry what You have placed in their hands and use it for the fulfilment of Your purpose concerning me.
Lord, let me not miss them when they come. Give me discernment to recognize the people You send, humility to receive their help and wisdom never to make a god out of the vessel You use.
Until You sent Moses, Israel remained in captivity. Father, wherever my next season requires a man You have chosen; let that man arise. Let no divine assignment concerning my life die in another person’s hesitation. Let no help appointed for me arrive too late.
O God, raise my men.
Speak to my men.
Position my men.
Send my men.
In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.
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