Until God's People Pray
- Mar 5, 2024
- 2 min read
There are many examples in the Bible of situations where God waited to act until His people prayed. God is Sovereign, and He will always accomplish His eternal purpose, but He is also gracious to allow us to be involved in His work. One of the key ways He's called us to be involved is through prayer. Here are a few examples from scripture:
There are two examples in Numbers 27:
Zelophehad's daughters ("So Moses brought their case before the Lord, and the Lord said to him, 'What Zelophehad’s daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property as an inheritance among their father’s relatives and give their father’s inheritance to them.'" (Numbers 27:5-7)
Joshua's appointment to replace Moses as the leader of the Israelites: "Moses said to the Lord, 'May the Lord, the God who gives breath to all living things, appoint someone over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.' So the Lord said to Moses, 'Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership, and lay your hand on him.'" (Numbers 27:15-18)
And another example in Isaiah 37:21-38
"Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Because you have prayed to me concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria, this is the word the Lord has spoken against him:"... (Isaiah 37:21-22)
We often get this backwards. We wait to pray until we know God will act (i.e., give us the outcome we desire). If you don't know how to pray, that's okay. Pray anyway. Pour out your heart to God and ask Him how to seek His will in that situation. Keep praying; keep listening; keep studying God's word. You'll see God act.
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