October 15 | Exodus 12:31-42

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DAILY READING

Exodus 12:31-42

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REFLECTION

We're outta here!

By Kim Starr

I’ve been praying a specific prayer for a very long time. My prayer involves healing, getting the person to the right doctors, getting the appropriate medications, and restoring the person to her former, if not better, health. I know some of you also have prayers you have been praying for a long time. Sometimes it feels as though our prayers go off into the great abyss and echo around the cosmos. Sometimes it feels as though God is right there next to us feeling our hopelessness and sadness that anything is going to change. The reality, though, is that God hears every single prayer we make.

I’m sure the Israelites prayed as they were enslaved by the Egyptians. I wonder if they had specific prayers about their masters, their work, their strength or if their prayers were simply, “Get us out of here!” God heard their prayers and was very specific in answering. He had a plan all along. On the exact day when the Israelites had been enslaved for 430 years, God compelled Pharaoh to let them go. That means some of the Israelites had been praying their entire lives or through multiple generations to be freed from their enslavement. That’s a long time!

God knew all along that he was going to get the Israelites out of Egypt. He knew exactly when that day would come. The same is true of our prayers. He knows exactly what day they will be answered and the manner in which he will answer them. It is all up to him, and he has a plan. He always has plans. Even so, we still need to keep praying. We need to keep making our requests known to God. We need to persevere, even when we don’t feel like it.

On that day, 430 years later, God was with the Israelites as he brought them out of Egypt. He asked the Israelites to remember that day annually, and to this day, they still do. When God answers our prayers, do we celebrate that specific day each year? Do we remember to give thanks and praise to God for his faithfulness, even if it is the answer we don’t want? If we don’t, maybe we should start. The point is, we need to remember that God does answer our prayers. Surely we are to thank and praise him for doing so.

If you’ve grown weary from praying your prayer day after day, and over and over, listen to this song, Don't Stop Praying, by Matthew West. I hope it provides you the encouragement that it provides me.

PRAYER

Oh Lord, we often want our prayers answered our way when we want them answered. We are like toddlers demanding something of our parents and we sometimes grow louder, more fervent, and more obnoxious with each plea. Please remind us that you have a plan and that you will answer our prayer, but in your timing. You were with the Israelites for 430 years never losing sight of what you were going to do and how you were going to do it. Remind us of that. Remind us that you see us, you hear us, and you are with us. And when an answer comes, please remind us to remember your faithfulness and to keep vigil to honor you and what you have done. Amen.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

KIM STARR

I have been a member of UALC since I was 2-years-old. Over my life I have participated in, and volunteered for, numerous ministries, programs, and activities, all of which have grown and strengthened my faith. I have been blessed beyond measure by not only being a part of this congregation, but also by being able to worship with three generations of my family.

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