NIV Spiritual Renewal Study Bible PlanSample

Joining Together With Others in Prayer

Prayer is sometimes a solitary activity — one individual conversing with God. But there are also times when we need to join with others in prayer. In this passage, even Moses, with all his spiritual depth and power, needed Aaron and Hur to help him as he called upon the Lord to deliver Israel. Aaron was Moses’ right-hand man, the high priest of the Israelites. Hur, however, is not as well known. He may have been the grandfather of Bezalel, one of the chief craftsmen of the tabernacle (see Exodus 31:2; 1 Chronicles 2:19 – 20). Regardless of his identity, it is clear that his assistance was vital to Moses’ intercession for Israel.

In this fascinating account, the outcome of the battle is directly linked to prayer. Upraised hands were a common posture for requesting God’s special help (see Psalm 63:4; 1 Timothy 2:8). When Moses’ hands and staff were lifted in prayer, the Israelites gained the advantage. When Moses grew tired and lowered his arms, Israel started losing. Neither the skill of the warriors nor the status and reputation of the supplicants affected Israel’s success. The power of God made the difference.

In all of life, the battle is the Lord’s (see 1 Samuel 17:47; Ephesians 6:10 – 18). We enter into this battle through prayer. These prayers become prayers of supplication and petition when we pray for our own needs and prayers of intercession when we pray for others.

The point of this passage, however, is not simply the importance of prayer but the significance of joining together with others in prayer. There are times for solitary prayer (see Matthew 6:6) but also times to pray with others. Jesus called us to join together in prayer in Matthew 18:19 – 20. Though the Lord is always with us, his presence is manifest in special ways when we pray with other believers. Prayer with others often fosters additional encouragement, assurance and insight into God’s character. It also provides us with testimonies of God’s faithfulness and keeps us accountable and faithful in our own spiritual walk. We especially need to join in prayer with others when:

*The spiritual conflict is intense. The Amalekites were fierce warriors who pressed Joshua and the Israelites to the limits. They threatened to crush the fledgling nation of Israel. Intense battles require extensive prayer support.

*God’s answers take time in coming. The battle with the Amalekites lasted the entire day. Sometimes the hardest thing about prayer is waiting for a response. The presence of others encourages us to persevere as we wait for God’s answer.

*We sense we have reached our limits. Moses’ spiritual and physical stamina were insufficient for the challenge. Our weakness provides one of the most important links to spiritual power: the community of faith. Our need draws us together.