Moses And The Word Of God

In regard to the connection between prayer and the word in our private devotion, the expression of a convert from heathenism has often been quoted: I pray, I speak to God; I read in the Bible, and God speaks to me. There is a verse in the history of Moses, in which this thought is beautifully brought out. We read, Numbers 7: 89, "And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and it spoke to him.” When he went in to pray for himself or his people, and to wait for instructions, he found one waiting for him. What a lesson for our morning watch.

A prayerful spirit is a spirit to which God will speak. A prayerful spirit will be a listening spirit waiting to hear what God says. In the oneness with God, His presence and the part He takes must be as real as my own. We want to ask what is needed so that our Scripture reading and praying may be such true fellowship with God.

First, get into the right place. “Moses went into the Tabernacle to speak with God.”

He separated himself from the people, and went where he could be with God alone. He went to the place where God was to be found. Jesus has told us where that place is. He calls us to enter into our closet, shut the door, and pray to our Father who sees in secret.

Anywhere where we really are alone with God may be to us the secret of His presence. To speak with God needs separation from all else. It needs a heart intently set upon and in full expectation of meeting God personally, and having direct dealings with Him. Those who go there to speak to God will hear the Voice of the one speaking to them.

Next, get into the right position. Moses heard the Voice of One speaking from off the mercy seat. Bow before the mercy seat. There the consciousness of your unworthiness will not hinder you, but be a real help in trusting God. There you may have the assured confidence that your upward look will be met by His eye, that your prayer can be heard, and that His loving answer will be given. Bow before the mercy seat, and be sure that the God of mercy will see and bless you. Then, get into the right disposition- the listening attitude. Many are so occupied with the much or the little they have to say in their prayers, that the Voice of One speaking off the mercy seat is never heard because it is not expected or waited for.

“Declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” Let us enter the closet, and set ourselves to pray, with a heart that humbly waits to hear God speak; in the word we read; we shall indeed hear the Voice of the one speaking to us.

The highest blessedness of prayer will be our ceasing to pray, to let God speak.

Prayer and the word are inseparably linked together: power in the use of either depends upon the presence of the other. The word gives me matter for prayer, telling me more about God and giving me the power for prayer, the courage of the assurance that I will be heard. The word also brings me the answer to prayer, as it teaches what God will do for me. And so, on the other hand, prayer prepares the heart for receiving the word from God Himself, for the teaching of the spirit to give the spiritual understanding of it, for the faith that is made partaker of its mighty working. It is clear why this is so. Prayer and the Word have one common center-God. Prayer seeks God: the Word reveals God. In prayer, man asks God: in the word, God answers man.

In prayer, man rises to heaven to dwell with God: in the word, God comes to dwell with man. In prayer, man gives himself to God: in the word, God gives Himself to man. In prayer and the word, it must be all God. Let your heart be entirely for God. Let the one object of your desire be prayer and the word. Then you will have a blessed fellowship with God, the interchange of thought, love and the life: a dwelling in God and God in us.

Seek God and live.