Topical Bible: Prayer: Answered: Moses, at Mount Horeb

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Context and Background

Mount Horeb, also known as Mount Sinai, holds significant importance in biblical history as the location where God revealed Himself to Moses and delivered the Ten Commandments. It is also the site of a profound instance of answered prayer, demonstrating God's responsiveness to the pleas of His chosen leader, Moses.

Biblical Account

The account of Moses' prayer at Mount Horeb is found in the Book of Exodus. After leading the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses faced the daunting task of guiding a large, often rebellious, group through the wilderness. At Horeb, the people found themselves without water, leading to complaints and unrest. In this moment of crisis, Moses turned to God in prayer.

Exodus 17:1-7

The Israelites camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with Moses, saying, "Give us water to drink." Moses replied, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?" But the people thirsted there for water, and they grumbled against Moses, saying, "Why have you brought us out of Egypt—to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?"

In response to the people's complaints, Moses cried out to the LORD, "What should I do with these people? A little more and they will stone me!" The LORD answered Moses, "Walk on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. Behold, I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. And when you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink." So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.

Analysis of the Prayer

Moses' prayer at Mount Horeb is a model of earnest supplication in a time of dire need. Faced with the potential for violence from the people he led, Moses turned to God with a direct and urgent plea. His prayer was not only a request for divine intervention but also an expression of his reliance on God's guidance and provision.

God's Response

God's response to Moses' prayer was immediate and miraculous. By instructing Moses to strike the rock at Horeb, God provided water for the Israelites, demonstrating His power and faithfulness. This act not only met the physical needs of the people but also reinforced Moses' leadership and God's presence among them.

Theological Implications

The answered prayer at Mount Horeb underscores several key theological themes:

1. Divine Provision: God's response to Moses' prayer highlights His role as the provider for His people, meeting their needs in unexpected and miraculous ways.

2. Leadership and Faith: Moses' reliance on prayer in a moment of crisis exemplifies the importance of faith and dependence on God for those in leadership positions.

3. God's Faithfulness: The event at Horeb serves as a testament to God's faithfulness to His covenant people, even when they doubt and grumble.

4. Intercession: Moses' role as an intercessor for the Israelites foreshadows the mediatory role of Christ, who intercedes on behalf of humanity.

Conclusion

The account of Moses' prayer at Mount Horeb is a powerful example of how God answers the prayers of His faithful servants. It serves as a reminder of the importance of turning to God in times of need and trusting in His provision and guidance.

Nave's Topical Index

Exodus 17:4-6
And Moses cried to the LORD, saying, What shall I do to this people? they be almost ready to stone me.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Rod that Troubled Egypt.
... So on the next day Moses prayed to the Lord that the frogs might go out of the land,
and the Lord answered his prayer; but when Pharoah saw that the ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xi the rod that.htm

The Wilderness.
... and peculiar treasure unto God, They answered with one ... Then after a prayer of atonement,
a great battle was ... The forty years were over, Moses's time was come ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson iv the wilderness.htm

The Psalmist --Setting the Lord
... ever I am aware, already my prayer is answered, and my ... or whatsoever is present or
absent from any prayer or psalm ... God of Jacob, and the God of Moses and Isaiah ...
/.../whyte/lord teach us to pray/viii the psalmistsetting the lord.htm

Book 3 Footnotes
... the constant use of divine forms of prayer, praise, and ... all along from the days of
Moses and Joshua ... consulted the prophets sometimes, and were answered by them ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 3 footnotes.htm

Finger-Posts
... The prayer itself is answered, and then some added touch ... was a man of marvellous
faith, and prayer, and bold ... Moses killing the Egyptian and hiding his body in ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on following the christ/finger-posts.htm

The Immaculate Conception
... should be used for this feast, he answered, the same ... and at last, in answer to his
earnest prayer, he was ... I still remember that the place where Moses saw the ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/ii the immaculate conception.htm

Knox -- the First Temptation of Christ
... as my hope is good, so shall my prayer be, that ... It was spoken by Moses a little before
His death ... over His chosen children." Christ Jesus answered: "Thy argument ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons volume i/knox the first temptation.htm

The Flight into Egypt and St. John the Baptist in the Desert
... that Joseph started for Egypt?' She answered very clearly ... arms; but another time
I thought it represented Moses. ... Virgin visiting this place of prayer with the ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xvi the flight into egypt.htm

The Talking Book
... appearing in the words, so that we feel like Moses when he ... And how often the book
has answered enquiries ... In the chapter read at morning prayer, or in a passage ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/the talking book.htm

Chapter xv
... the impression that Abram spoke twice before God answered. ... We find Gideon's prayer
analogous (Jud 6:17 ff ... How Moses arrives at the computation 430 in Exodus 12 ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xv.htm