Joshua 7:7-9
And Joshua said, "Alas, Sovereign Lord, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! Pardon your servant, Lord. What can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?"
Joshua is one who understands how to cry out to God. Not only did he clearly explain his hardship to God, he also held on to God's name when he prayed. When we are in hardship, we often just see our own needs and grievances, and we would pray hard for our circumstance. Actually, our prayers are not answered because we are in pitiful circumstance, but rather because we hold on to God's promises by faith. When the early church was persecuted by the Jewish leaders, they didn't withdraw because they were afraid; on the contrary, they prayed loudly and said "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." This pray carried power not because it centered on the needs of men, but it centered on God.
Effective prayers are those that hold on to God. Even though we begin with our own needs, but we don't just stop there, but rather we move on from our own needs to the promises of God. That's how Joshua prayed - He not only cared about name of Isrealites, but more importantly name of the Lord. I liked how Joshua called the Lord's name as "your own great name." He didn't just say this to please God, but he sincerely believed that the Lord's name is great, and he also understood that name of God is connected with name of His people.
From human perspective, how does it matter to God if the name of Israel is wiped off from the earth? The Bible says that God created heaven and earth and He owns everything, so He can obviously lift His own name up. Joshua, however, understood God's will in that He wanted to connect His name with the name of His people. Joshua held on to God's will and started to pray to God boldly in His name, because God will not put His name of shame. The Bible says with apart from God we can do nothing, but apart from us the Lord will do nothing. He chose to work with us and have His name glorified through us, and that's why He sent Jesus to the world. Once you understand this truth, your prayer will start to change. You won't just focus on your own pitifulness and weakness, but you will value God's will more and your prayer will become powerful!
Pray with Pastor Tong
Lord, I ask that you teach us how to pray, not only to care about ourselves, but to see how your name can be glorified through our needs. Let us not just hold on tightly to our own wounds, but to hold on to your name, and become victorious in your name. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!
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