Approved

On our first morning in Philadelphia, I wanted Steven to be able to sleep in, and the morning was a good opportunity to read some scripture and pray a bit. So I woke early (my new habit), went downstairs to our hotel lobby, bought a cup of Starbucks coffee, and found a relaxing place outside to sit for a while. The weather was mild, and the scenery (against the backdrop of the Delaware River) was peaceful. I relaxingly polished off about half my coffee and as much of the muffin, pondering all the while about the events to come. Then I picked up my Bible, hoping to find scripture that would offer encouragement for the days to come, and guidance in how to pray.

I had recently memorized a verse in Isaiah 30, and found my mind continually going to that place, so I decided to start at the beginnning of the chapter and read my way through it. What I didn't know is that Isaiah 30 is written as a message to the Israelites, who are attempting to flee to Egypt in the face of impending attack by the Assyrians.

Here are some key passages in my part of this story:

verses 1-2"'Ah, stubborn children,' declares the Lord, 'who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin; who set out to go down to Egypt, without asking for my direction, to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!' ...

verses 8-11"And now, go, write it before them on a tablet and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever. For they are a rebellious people, lying chilren, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the Lord; who say to the seers, "Do not see," and to the prophets, "Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions, leave the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel. ...

verses 19b-21a"He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you. And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it ...

verses 30-33
"And the Lord will cause his majestic voice to be heard and the descending blow of his arm to be seen, in furious anger and a flame of devouring fire, with a cloudburst and storm and hailstones. The Assyrians will be terror-stricken at the voice of the Lord, when he strikes with his rod. And every stroke of the appointed staff that the Lord lays on them will be to the sound of tambourines and lyres. Battling with brandished arm, he will fight them. For a burning place has long been prepared; indeed, for the king it is made ready, its pyre made deep and wide, with fire and wood in abundance; the breath of the Lord, like a stream of sulfur, kindles it."

As I read these parts of the Israelites story, God used them in a powerful way to lead me in how to pray.

First (based on verses 1-2) ... that we wouldn't try to carry out a plan that wasn't his plan, and that we wouldn't try to make an alliance that wasn't his alliance. That we wouldn't set out to "go down to Egypt" (even if Egypt, for us, was Ireland) without seeking his direction.

Second (based on verses 8-11) ... that we would be willing to hear the instruction of the Lord, even if that meant a second rejection. By the grace of the Holy Spirit, I prayed that the "seers" (translation, assessors) would see what they needed to see in us, both strengths and weaknesses, and that we wouldn't go wanting them to "speak to us smooth things" or "prophesy illusion."

Third (based on verses 19b-21a) ... that we would "hear the word" of our Teacher: "This is the way, walk in it."

And finally, I thanked God for the promise, illustrated in verses 30-33, that he powerfully prepares the way.

Later, as Steven and I waited for Meredith Elder to collect us from the train stop, we had time to discuss and wonder at the way God met with me that morning.

Today, days later, we walked into a room and were issued an invitation to join World Harvest Mission. And we marvel at the full assurance he has given us as we've heard his word: "Go."