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Is it important to intercede for someone else in prayer? Can my prayer be decisive in someone else's struggle? Is there even anyone praying for me? Who is praying for me, especially during difficult times? I want to explore these questions with you today and find some answers.
The people of Israel against Amalek
To draw a comparison, let's consider the people of Israel. They were in the desert at the place called Rephidim. Although they often rebelled against God, God continued to provide for them. Despite being in the desert, they were doing well. God provided for them. We read that the enemy Amalek approached to fight the Israelites. Moses called Joshua and said to him, “Choose some of our men and go out and fight Amalek! Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand” (Exodus 17:9).
Although the people had been ready to stone Moses just moments before, Moses didn't hold it against them. He led them onward nonetheless. Joshua was to find men with whom he could go into battle. Meanwhile, Moses went up the mountain with the staff to pray to God. Here, two battles were being fought simultaneously: one on the battlefield and one on the mountain. Moses stood at the top of the mountain and prayed for victory below. But after some time, his arms began to droop. Aaron and Hur noticed this and brought a stone for Moses to sit on. The two stood beside Moses and supported his arms so that he could hold up the staff of God until sunset. As soon as Moses let his arms droop, the warriors had to retreat before their enemies.
The outcome on the battlefield depends on the prayer that is taking place in the background.
We don't read that they grew tired, but rather that they lost the upper hand in the battle because Moses began to weaken. Victory and defeat lay with Moses in prayer, not directly on the battlefield with Joshua. He and his companions gave their all, but ultimately, they could have been the best-trained warriors and still lost the battle if Moses had given up in prayer.
Two battles: In prayer and on the battlefield
Just like back then, we too are always fighting two battles in parallel: one on the battlefield and the other in prayer. The battle on the battlefield, however, is not as exhausting as the battle in prayer. Even though we are often unaware of it, the battle in prayer is the decisive one for victory on the battlefield. What would have happened if Moses had given up? What would have happened if Aaron and Hur hadn't helped him? They would have lost, no matter how strong Joshua's men were.
Two battles are always being fought simultaneously. Are you participating in the battle? Are you directly on the battlefield or in prayer? Or are you perhaps someone who distances themselves from both and lets others take the lead? Perhaps a battle was lost precisely because of you. Do you send others into battle and support them in prayer? How often do you visit your quiet room? Has your quiet room become a place of travel, visited only during the off-season? Do you support others who are praying for someone else? Do you yourself pray for others who are going into battle?
Moses' prayer at the top of the mountain was extremely important for the Israelites fighting below. Aaron and Hur's support was also crucial to their victory in the battle below. It's so important for others when you pray for them. Your prayer can be the deciding factor in their victory—not a prayer for their defeat. What will you choose?
Let's be there for each other and stick together.
Main role before people or before God?
We read in verse 17 that Joshua was the one who defeated Amalek. Therefore, the one who achieves victory on the battlefield receives the honor, not the one who intercedes for him in prayer. Moses played the leading role in God's eyes regarding the victory. But for the honor, Moses only played a supporting role, while Joshua and his men played the leading role in the eyes of the people.
What is more important to you: playing a decisive role in the eyes of God or in the eyes of people? The majority of the people stood on the battlefield at the end, fighting for victory. And they won in the end and were cheered by everyone. The smallest group of people—to be precise, just one person—stood atop the mountain and prayed for victory. The masses were cheered in the end. The one who prayed on the mountain was not. But in the eyes of God, the prayer was decisive for the victory over Amalek.
Which two people support you in prayer?
We see in Moses that prayer is exhausting and tiring. But two people, Aaron and Hur, came to help him. What about us? Who helps us in our prayers? Often we feel powerless and alone, and we long for two people to support us so we can continue praying for victory. Moses had Aaron and Hur. Who do you have?
It is so important to pray for others and to support one another.
Perhaps you think right now that there is no one there to pray for you. Perhaps you feel abandoned in your struggle and your arms begin to droop. But you also have two people who are always there for you in prayer, supporting your arms. The arms of the first person do not droop. This is the one who carried the cross for you. His hands were pierced with nails. And this man, Jesus, is praying for you. I would like to quote a verse from Romans: “Who is the one who condemns? It is Christ, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—who is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (Romans 8:34).
Jesus' arms do not droop. He intercedes for you directly with the Father. There is also a second person who intercedes for you before God with groanings too deep for words: "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words" (Romans 8:26). Just as with Moses, your arms are supported. By the Son of God and by the Holy Spirit. You are not alone in prayer.
The principle of prayer for others in the New Testament
We find the principle of praying for others in the New Testament as well. Right at the beginning of the New Testament, Peter and John are brought before the Sanhedrin because of a healing miracle. The verdict was that they should no longer teach about the name of Jesus. How did the congregation react to this? We read in Acts 4:24 that they all began to pray together with one accord. We see the result of this prayer in verses 31 and 32a: “And when they had prayed, the place where they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. And the multitude of believers was of one heart and soul.”
Despite the prohibition, everyone, filled with the Holy Spirit, began to spread the message. Prayer is the key to power. What would have happened if they hadn't prayed? I'd like to share a comparison from John chapter 20. Jesus has risen and meets the women at the tomb. How do the disciples react when the women tell them about it? We must understand that all of Jesus' followers at that time were afraid of being killed if they confessed their faith in Jesus.
The situation was similar to that described in Acts 4. However, the reaction was different. “When evening came on that first day of the week, and the doors of the place where the disciples were gathered were locked for fear of the Jews” (John 20:19a). Their reaction stemmed from their fear. What would have happened if they had prayed for one another, like the church in Acts? Would prayer have changed them? Praying for one another gave not only Peter and John the courage to preach, but everyone present.
Your prayer is crucial.
The question I want to ask you today is: "Do you stand up for others in prayer?" As a leader, whether in children's church, youth group, choir, or other groups, you have people who are on the battlefield. These people depend on your prayers as their leader.
Are you praying for them? Do you have people who support you in prayer, like Hur and Aaron? People who see when your arms droop with weakness and stand by you. Are you a person who prays, and do you have people who help you in this? Your prayer could be decisive for their victory.
Daniel Kebernik
Municipality of Cloppenburg