“If now I have found favor in Your sight, O Lord, I pray, let the Lord go along in our midst, even though the people are obstinate, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your own possession.” Exodus 34:9
Know your audience. Every speech class or preaching seminar begins with this fundamental warning. When I have ignored the wisdom of it, I may have delivered the mail, but I put it in the wrong mailbox. Simply put, the message was not received.
When Moses prayed, He knew his audience by name, by reputation, and from personal experience. Scripture describes his communication with God as face-to-face conversations. His familiarity with God never degenerated into a casual, chummy contempt for God. When God came calling, His reputation preceded Him. He needed no introduction, but provided one anyway. Moses knew his audience. You should too.
6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands,[a] forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.” V 6-7
When Moses prayed God condescended to spend time with him, and he was stirred to descend to a whole new level of personal humility. Praying to God was not a matter of stealing a bit of significance by treating God as a celebrity. For Moses, prayer began by kneeling before God’s sovereignty. Believing prayer always does. Don’t take a “Selfie.” Take a knee.
“Moses made haste to bow low toward the earth and worship.” V. 8
When Moses prayed, he knew his audience. Believing prayer and genuine worship are offered to an audience of One. People pleasing prayers and personal preference posing as praise always evaporate in the Presence of Holy God. God condescended to meet Moses face to face, but prayer put Moses on his face before God, and the needs of others on his heart.
“I pray, let the Lord go along in our midst.” V. 9a
This is the very definition of Spiritual Awakening. A Great Awakening is the result of a prolonged, saturation of a community of believers with the Presence of God. His Presence does not come because the people deserve His grace, but because they are in need of His mercy.
“…even though the people are so obstinate…pardon our iniquity and our sin.” V. 9b
Never confuse preparation for revival or anticipation of revival with desperation for God’s Holy Presence. Preparing for any movement of God begins by His people falling on their faces before Him in prayer, and inviting God to saturate them with His Holy Presence, not for a season, but for as long as it takes.
“Revival is a people saturated with God.” Brian Edwards
Prayers are never eloquent or sincere enough to generate revival. Still, God brings an awakening by walking among His people in answer to prayer.
Moses humbled himself by praying and admitting the people didn’t deserve in the least what they needed the most. God brought His Presence into their midst. Never settle for anything less.
“The central message of the Bible is the mercy of God, and whoever comes to Him in penitence and sincerity will in no wise be cast out.” Dr. Herbert Lockyer
“…and take us as Your own possession.” V. 9c
This idea of “possession” may be the greatest hindrance to a movement of God. When people believe they can brand God, and package Him as an easy sale to needy people, they may draw a crowd, but they miss God’s Presence.
NOTE TO SELF: God is not yours to sell. You are His, to own. Prayer places a sign over your heart, “Under New Ownership.” When God condescends to meet with you in prayer, don’t make it an opportunity for a “Selfie.” Take the opportunity to get over yourself and intercede for someone else. Moses did. Jesus does. Anything less is not prayer. It is just a poor use of the air in your lungs. Know your audience.
TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!