PRAYER

*Have someone read Num. 11:11-15.

The scripture that was describes a time from Moses’ life.

This great lawgiver had brought a nation of slaves out of Egypt but the people were ungrateful.

The Hebrew people complained (Num. 11:1).

When Moses heard the complaining he prayed (verse 2).

When the problems continued Moses prayed again (Num. 11:11-15).

In this prayer Moses said to God, “Why have you afflicted me, your servant”?

Why has this burden been laid upon me?

“Am I responsible for bringing all of these people here?” (verse 12).

“God, I cannot bear this problem alone; it is too much for me to do” (verse 14).

Moses was so distraught he said in verse 15, “Kill me. End my life.”

“Let me not see my wretchedness.”

IF WE STUDY THE GREAT PRAYERS OF THE BIBLE WE FIND THAT MANY WHO PRAYED CAME TO GOD WITH ONE OR MORE COMPLAINTS.

a) Moses was clearly a man who had a complaint that he expressed in prayer.

b) Another famous Bible character who prayed in a similar way was Samson.

c) Samson (Judg. 15:14) had broken ropes that were supposed to bind him.

d) He had taken the jawbone of a donkey and killed a thousand Philistines.

e) After killing a thousand men he was exhausted. The text also indicates dehydration.

f) Samson came to God in prayer and said (15:18),

g) “You have given this great deliverance by the hand of your servant; and now shall I die of
thirst and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?”

h) Samson complained that he didn’t have anything to drink.

i) He complained and the Bible says that God provided Samson with water.

j) Another man who complained to God was the prophet Elijah.

k) This great prophet miraculously provided food for a widow.

l) As time passed the son of this widow died.

m) Elijah went to God in prayer and said this, 1 Kgs. 17:20-21.

n) Elijah complained, God answered this complaint, and the son was restored to life.

o) A little later in Elijah’s life this prophet again complained to God in prayer.

p) Two chapters later (1 Kgs 19) we are introduced to a time when Elijah had been victorious.

q) He had defeated the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.

r) The next day Queen Jezebel (who supported the false prophets) threatened Elijah.

s) The man who had previously been successful was now worried he would be killed.

t) His prayer and his complaint are found in 1 Kgs. 19:4.

u) Elijah said, “I have had enough. Kill me; take my life.”

v) Throughout the Bible we find examples of people who came to God with complaints.

i) One of the most notable illustrations of this might be the prophet Jeremiah.

ii) This prophet was tough. He was a man who was rugged.

iii) In spite of immense pressure and opposition this man of God stayed faithful.

iv) Yet, listen to one of his prayers (Jer. 20:14-18). A great prophet complained.

v) Another prophet who complained to God was Jonah.

2) When we find people who complained to God in prayer 2 points emerge.

a) First, some who complained received divine help. Several examples of this were just given.

b) Second, others who complained to God were punished.

c) Think back to the first scripture that was read (Num. 11).

d) Moses complained and he received help.

e) The Hebrews also complained but they were punished – Num. 11:1.

i) Why did God punish the complaining Hebrews but not the complaining lawgiver?

ii) God had helped the Hebrew people by performing many miracles.

iii) God had proven Himself and His help again and again.

iv) In spite of what God did the people still whined and complained.

v) Instead of making known the problems through prayer,

vi) The Hebrews who were condemned criticized and attacked God.

vii) Instead of dealing with the facts, the Hebrews said God had not been fair to them.

viii) In their eyes and hearts God had failed to provide for their needs.

f) There are times when we may wish to complain to God in prayer.

i) The examples we have from Moses, Elijah, and others show this is acceptable.

ii) We have the right to complain to God and we will be heard.

iii) God loves us enough to listen to and respond to our complaints.

iv) However, if we complain we must avoid the error of the Hebrew people.

v) The Israelites complained about God and what He had done.

vi) They attributed their problems to God and this complaining didn’t help them.

vii) If we are going to complain it needs to be done in the right way.

viii) Studying the prayers of Jeremiah, Moses, and others help us understand how to complain.

3) HAVING SHOWN THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO COMPLAIN TO GOD IN PRAYER I WANT TO MOVE TO A SECOND TYPE OF PRAYER THAT GOD ACCEPTS. THIS MIGHT BE CALLED CONFESSION.

a) This point needs to be made because there is more to prayer than complaining.

b) Some times we must go to God and acknowledge wrongs and sins.

c) In the Bible there are many examples of people who offered a prayer of confession.

d) Judg. 10:10 – “We have sinned against You, because we have both forsaken our God and
served the Baals.”

i) Last week a little something was said about simple prayers.

ii) The prayer in Judg. 10 is simple.

iii) The people said, “We have sinned.”

iv) “We have sinned against you.”

v) The nature of the sin was also specified (the people forsook God and served idols).

vi) This is probably not the sin that we commit, but this prayer is an example.

vii) Some of our prayers need to be directed to God to acknowledge sin.

e) When this is done, specifying the sin is appropriate.

i) People sometimes say to someone they have wronged, “I’m sorry.”

ii) What happens when the apology is made more specific?

iii) Instead of “I’m sorry” the apology becomes, “I’m sorry I hit you yesterday.”

iv) We are now acknowledging a specific act.

v) By acknowledging the specific sin we are likely thinking about the incident.

vi) Instead of trying to gloss over the wrong we are taking full responsibility for it.

vii) A similar approach can be taken with prayer.

4) Another confession of sin is found in 2 Sam. 24:10, 17.

a) David decided to take a census to determine how many Israelites could fight.

b) For some reason this act was a sin.

c) After David engaged in this sin his heart condemned him (24:10).

d) This sin was so serious God said punishment had to come.

e) David could pick one of three punishments and he decided on a three day plague.

f) Israel’s king said, “I have sinned greatly.”

i) When we confess sin to God the word “greatly” may be appropriate.

ii) Being angry at someone and shooting someone are not equal.

iii) The Old Testament implies that sins are not equal.

iv) Under the Law of Moses different sins required different types of offerings.

v) David realized that some sins are “great sins.”

g) When we commit a sin—great or not great—confession of the wrong is the right thing to do.

h) When we use prayer to confess sin to God there needs to be the right spirit (right heart).

i) Perhaps the best passage to illustrate this is Ezra 9:6-15.

i) Ezra was a man who was trained in the Old Testament.

ii) He was trying to teach the law to some Jews who had returned from the Babylonian captivity.

iii) When Ezra met his students he found that God’s people had intermarried with pagans.

iv) God’s people had married idol worshippers and Israel was being led astray.

v) He tore his robe and then uttered this public prayer. 9:6, 13, 15.

vi) In this case Ezra made a public confession.

vii) The 10^th chapter opens by saying a “very large assembly” joined him.

viii) Some confessions of sin may even be public.

5) WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE PRAY WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO COMPLAIN TO GOD. WE HAVE THE RIGHT AND THE NEED TO CONFESS SINS TO GOD. WHAT ABOUT SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE POSITIVE?

a) The Bible also shows we have the right to use prayer to communicate a blessing.

b) We cannot “bless” God in the sense that we are capable of giving Him something.

c) The word “bless” describes appreciation or praise.

d) Last week I used an example from Gen. 24.

i) Abraham’s servant was asked to get a bride for Isaac.

ii) This servant prayed for success on his mission and God answered his prayer.

iii) When this man realized he was successful he said,

iv) “Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master.” (24:27)

e) On another occasion God was praised when Naomi received a grandson, Ruth. 4:13-14.

f) Even now when children are born this event is an appropriate reason to praise God.

i) David was met by a woman who kept him from doing a bad thing, 1 Sam. 25:32-33.

ii) Because David was prevented from engaging in an unwise act he expressed appreciation.

iii) He said, “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me.”

iv) The Queen of Sheba praised God for making Solomon king of Israel (1 Kgs. 10:9).

v) We can bless God when good rulers are serving in the government.

vi) There are many reasons to bless and praise God.

6) We have been introduced to three categories of prayer used by great men and women.

7) Great men and women in the Bible used prayer to complain to, confess to, and bless God.

8) Do we use prayer to accomplish these same things in our lives?

9) Have we come to learn the value and importance of prayer?

10) Or, do we still need some help?

11) Perhaps some still need to become a Christian.