In
these closing verses of Exodus 2, we see a shift of scene from Moses in Midian
to the condition of the Hebrews in Egypt. Forty years had elapsed and we see
that duration of intense suffering summarised in verse 23. Here we are told
that the King who started the indescribable oppression had died but they were
still in bondage. The name of that Pharaoh was not given but his death made
possible for Moses to return to his birthplace and to the mission he was born
to fulfill.
We cannot imagine the intensity of the
bondage. It was a daily pressure of unutterable, agonizing afflictions. They
must have yearned for the slightest relief which seemed far and remote. For centuries, they went through unrelenting pressure under the hot desert sun,
toiling and building remarkable monuments for Pharaoh’s glory. It was not as if
they did not pray, in fact, they did. Their prayers were so intense that they
were described as groanings. The more they groaned the more it seemed that
their cries went unheeded. In the course of our journey in this life, they will
come a time when we find it hard to endure. Like it or not every one of us has
our fair share of affliction though not as intense as that which the Hebrews
had to endure. It is so encouraging to know that our groanings are prayers to
God when we direct it to Him in faith. What’s more encouraging for us is that in
our affliction we have the Holy Spirit to assist us in prayer! Romans 8:26-27
tell us that in circumstances when “we do
not know how to pray as we should…the Spirit Himself intercedes for us
with groanings too deep for words….” And because the Holy Spirit “who searches
the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, He is able to
intercede for the saints according to the will of God.”
For
several decades, their cries incessantly arose to God and seemed to go
unheeded. They yearned deeply for liberation that was not forthcoming. They
must have wondered whether God had heard their prayer. If He had, then they
must be wondering when was God going to answer their constant plea. Like
them, we need to know that every delay in answer to prayer is not an indication
of God’s denial. In fact, verses 24-25 tell us that “God heard their groaning;
and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God
saw the sons of Israel, and God took notice of them.” Beloved, there
is not a difficult situation in our life that God does not know. If there seems
to be a delay in His answer to our prayer it’s because God is working out the
best plan for us.
Notice
the four verbs used to describe God’s awareness of the plight they were in. God
not only heard their groanings, but He also remembered His
covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And He saw their
afflictions and took notice or knew of
their plight. We take courage to know that when we pray, not only will God
hear, but he will also remember us. He can definitely see all that is happening
to us and knows our plight. In the situation of the Hebrews, God sent
Moses into the desert to prepare him and he was about to be used for the
deliverance. The liberation of the Hebrews was not about Moses but God, the
real Liberator. Moses was only part of His larger plan. Like him, we must see
ourselves, in whatever capacity, as only a part of God’s larger strategy. We are
not the end, we are the means to an end.
These
three verses assure us that God hears and answers prayer. He not only hears us
but also remembers that we are His people, even though at times, we may behave
as if we are not. God can see everything that has happened to us for He is the
all-seeing God. And He does take notice of everything that we are going
through. Just remember that the answer to our prayer may not always be in
the way we hope things will happen, but it will always be according to His perfect
will and timing. God’s answer to prayer will always result in bringing Him the
glory. Take heart, He hears our prayer!
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