WORKING AND PRAYING

In today’s OYB reading, Moses sent Joshua and some of the fighting men of Israel to fight the Amalekites (who had attacked this ragtag band in the wilderness), then he (himself now over 80) and two assistants went up on a hill to pray. “So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed,” Exodus 17:11. In the end, Moses’ assistants had to help Moses hold up his hands in prayer, and “…so Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword,” (v.13, NIV).

We could raise the question, which was more important in this victory, Joshua and the fighting men, or, Moses’ prayer on the mountain? Both were important, of course. But often it seems we tend to emphasize what needs to be done, the doing, and so we can tend to forget to support our efforts in prayer. Israel’s warriors prevailed when Moses (with assistance) was lifting his hands in prayer to God for them!

Prayer. What matters should we ourselves be praying about more? Or, whom could we be assisting and encouraging in their own prayers?