Cornerstone

Hab 3:1-6

The concern of this prayer and the circumstances which accompanied it are parallel to a prayer breathed by Moses. The people of Israel had shown by their actions that their heart was not with God. He had been patient, kind, loving and understanding but now as God looked over Moses’ shoulder He saw the people He had tried to help thumbing their noses at Him. They had fashioned a golden calf so they could have something to worship. That told Him clearly that they did not want to worship Him. They gave of their wealth to form their god. That told God they had been holding back what they owed to Him. They danced and sang at a fevered pitch of excitement. That suggested that God was second-rate and that they had found something that far surpassed their former allegiance. God’s wrath burned and He determined to destroy them and raise a new people under the leadership of His loyal servant Moses. But Moses fell on his face in intercessory prayer and prayed for a revival. As Habakkuk later prayed, Moses lifted his voice to God saying something like this: “Instead of destroying your people, O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.” Is that our prayer for revival? Do we realize that to be revived is more than just to make up our mind to do better with our personal devotions? Do we realize that we are asking God to hold back His wrath against our insensitive rebellious ways? We are asking Him to have mercy on His people and to extend His love to us as we endeavor to draw closer to Him.

Dr. Gayle Woods

Deut. 34:5-12 (10)

Can you know God as Moses knew God? We read the accounts of Moses in awe. We speculate what must have taken place in his face to face encounters. We have a holy envy.

God will probably never take you for stroll up the mountain side. He will probably never set a bush on fire or part a sea for you. And yet, why can’t you have a relationship with God that is as intimate as that which Moses enjoyed? Was not Moses a common man? Was not Moses plagued with many of our faults – timidity, inferiority complex, uncertainty when making decisions, and a temper?

What made Moses special? 1) He listened when God spoke. 2) He obeyed when God commanded. 3) He chose to live for God regardless of the consequences. 4) He would not be swayed in his determination to do God’s will. 5) He was unmoveable in his confidence toward God. 6) He prayed and then believed God.

Can you be a man/woman of God like Moses? If you determine that your upmost will be given for His highest no one can stop you from developing a close relationship with God. Your name will never appear in Scripture among the greats. And yet, all that is important is that you know that Jesus is your best friend and that you are living a life that pleases Him.

Dr. Gayle Woods