Wednesday, February 1, 2023

 

Wednesday, February 1, 2023


Psalm 74

Genesis 20

Luke 2:41-52


“...he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live.”


Abraham has gone and done it again. He just can’t seem to help himself! After all he has seen of and heard from God, he still thinks God needs a bit of a hand in carrying out His promises. Once again, God has to scoop Abraham out of trouble – in a most encouraging way, because the shame Abraham will face in front of his family and employees (again!) is punishment enough.


What is noticeable about this passage is found in what God says to Abimelech. It is the first time that this Hebrew word for “prophet” is used in the Bible. It is not used in the way we would think: that is, God does not describe a prophet as one who speaks to people. Rather, in this passage, God is saying that a prophet is one who speaks to Him.


If you are reading this reflection as part of your morning prayers, then you have fulfilled the role of prophet as described in this passage. What an honour that is! To be able to step into the throneroom of heaven, march up to the seat of God, and speak face to face, is a monumental act that we should never tire of.


There is literature published by the church that encourages us to be prophets in our community. I wonder what the world would look like if we took that to mean that we were to speak to God just as much, if not more than, our fellow humans?


As a final thought, let us remember the threefold office held by our Lord Jesus of prophet, priest and king. We have One who is always praying for us: Jesus is there on the throne, at the right hand of the Father, constantly interceding on our behalf. He prays for us so that we shall live. He prays for the world, too: you can read His prayer in the final chapters of John just before He went to the cross, and what an encouragement it is to know that when we pray, we are joining our voices together with that of Jesus in heaven.



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