Exodus 33:12 – Moses’ Prayer Part 2 – The People

Daily Devotional Bible Verse

Moses said to the LORD, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ (Exodus 33:12 ESV)

We are continuing our series on the prayer of Moses in Exodus 33:12­13.

Moses knew God had called him to lead the people into the promised land, but he also knew he could not do it alone. Moses is pleading with God, asking “Let me know who you will send with me.” As Moses is praying this prayer he probably remembers his father­ in­ law, Jethro’s, advice in Exodus 18:18­27. Jethro sees Moses trying to lead all the people by himself and says “What you are doing is not good. You and the people will wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone.” His father­ in­law wisely knew Moses needed a team of capable, trustworthy, and godly leaders around him.

We see this pattern throughout scripture. King David had his mighty men, Jesus had his 12 disciples, and Paul always had a team of people involved in his missionary journeys and church-planting ventures. This idea of needing others can be tough sometimes. We are surrounded by a culture that exalts the idea of the lone ranger in movies, as business men (a self-made man), and even the idea of being able to do everything from your computer without having to speak to another human for help.

We need to remember that, as Christians, we are part of a body of believers who all have been gifted by God to do specific tasks (1 Corinthians 12:12­31). We can’t live this Christian life alone and we need Godly men and women by our sides as we make our way through life here on the Earth. Just as Moses needed a group of people to help him in leading the Israelites, so do we here today.

Who has God placed in your life, to share in your Christian walk?