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, God speaks to me. There is a verse in the history of Moses, in which this thought is beautifully brought out. We read, Numbers vii, 89, “When Moses Was Gone into the Tabernacle TO Speak with God, then He Heard the Voice or One Speaking to Him from off the Mercy Seat: and God Spake unto 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, JL. prayerful spirit is the spirit to which, God. will speak. A prayerful spirit will be a listening spirit waiting to hear what God says. In the intercourse with God His presence and the part He takes must be as real as my own. We want to ask what is needed that our Scripture reading and praying may be such true fellowship with God.

First, Get into the Eight Place. Moses went into the tabernacle to speak with God.’’ He 23 separated himself from the people, and went where he could be with God alone. He went to the plae where God was to be found. Jesjis. has .told us where that place is. He calls us to enter into our closet, and shut the door, and pray to our Father which seeth 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 One speaking to them.

!^ext. Get into the Eight Position. He 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, 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.

And 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. “Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool; to this man will I look, even to him that is Poor and of a Coxtrite Spirit, and Trem-BLETH 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 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 what God will do for me. It shows me the path of prayer, telling me how God would have me come. It gives me the power for prayer, the courage of the assurance I will be heard. And it 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 centre — God. Prayer seeks God: the Word reveals God. In prayer man askg 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.

Make God the all of thy heart, the one object of thy desire; prayer and the Word will be a blessed fellowship with God, the interchange of thought, and love and life: a dwelling in God and God in us. Seek God and live!