So the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD was concerned about the sons of Israel and that He had seen their affliction, then they bowed low and worshiped. (Exodus 4:31 NAS95)
Maybe you’ve prayed for an extended period and wondered whether God heard? When I think about the orchestration of events to get Moses back to the Israelites after 40 years of exile, the verse above wreaks with the fantastic attention of God toward His people. God not only heard their cry, but He’d seen their affliction. Now that speaks to His very real presence with them. A God so near, so present, He sees the oppression, pain and anguish of His people. He didn’t just hear their words; He saw them. He just doesn’t hear your words, He sees you, and He sees you through the lens of love. He’s near, not far, and He works to redeem!
I love it that God used Moses to deliver the message that the Israelites’ prayers really had an audience with God. I wonder how shocking it was for the Hebrews to find this former member of Pharaoh’s household standing before them with the purpose to deliver them? This stacks up the evidence that God hears prayers and acts. I love the Israelites response. They bowed and worshiped. What else could you do? They were in awe that God heard, saw, cared and proved it by returning Moses to them: a Hebrew raised in Pharaoh’s household who had access to the seat of power. God sent that answer to prayer into motion 80 years earlier. So who initiated the conversation? Next time you wonder if God hears, consider that your prayers may reflect His initiative, and the answer, His answer, not yours, might possibly be on its way already. He’s that present to you!
For Reflection:
“In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple, And my cry for help before Him came into His ears.” (Psalms 18:6 NAS95)
- What do you think about prayer as a reflection of God’s initiative in your life?
- How easily do you consider God’s very presence to you, His seeing you, interacting with you when you pray?
