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How often do we pray, stopping "short of the "finish line"? The woman in Luke 18 is commended for her persistence. Consider the story of a missionary to India, one Samuel Hebich.
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February 9, 2009
Remember the story in 2 Kings, when Elisha was on his death bed? The king of Israel came to see him and wept over his condtion. He was mainly concerned that he was about to go into battle against the king of Aram. And he wanted Elisha to do him a prophetic favor by assuring him of a victory.
At Elisha's instructions, the king grabbed a bow, and with Elisha placing his hands on the king's, he let an arrow fly out the window (hopefully missing everyone and everything!) while Elisha declared, "The Lord's arrow of victory over Aram! You will completely destroy the Arameans at Aphek." Quite a dramatic moment.
Secondly, he had the King of Israel strike the ground, and the king obediently struck the ground three times, and stopped. Not good. He stopped short. "You should have struck the ground five or six times, then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times," Elisha declared.
Big bummer. Given the way Jesus talks of praying and not giving up, and the woman prevailing with the judge in Luke 18, is it possible that often we do not persist in prayer, and the results are accordingly meager?
Samuel Hebich was a missionary in India in the early 1800's and prayer played a vital role in his evangelistic efforts.
"He was always afraid of working in his own strength lest, as he said, 'the ass's ears of the old Adam should peep out.' His work was steeped in prayer, and he could not go forth unless he had the witness of the Spirit of being led to victory."
Another missionary witnessed the following.
"One day, the bullock cart was waiting for Hebich to come out of the house to go to Cannanore to preach to the Moplahs. He rushed out of the house as though he were in a great hurry, but he did not get into the cart. There he stood as though he had forgotten something. Suddenly he turned on his heels and went into the house."
"He was gone for some time. Then he came out again, but did not enter the cart. He returned to his room, stayed there for some time, came out, entered the cart, and told the driver to go on. When we came to the gate he suddenly called out: 'Stop!'
"The driver stopped and for the third time he hurried into the house and remained there for quite a long time. When he came out of his room for the third time I enquired: 'What is the matter brother Hebich? Three times you started to go away and each time returned to your room. What is wrong?'
With a happy, smiling face the old man replied: 'Why brother Diez, you see that I am going to Cannanore to preach to the Molpahs, but how can I go unless I am sure of victory? I thought God had heard my prayer when I started the first time, but I wasn't sure, so I went back, but I had no assurance even then.'
'Being impatient I did not take time to wait on the Lord, so I had to go three times. Now I am sure of victory, for I have now the witness of the Spirit.'"
At Elisha's instructions, the king grabbed a bow, and with Elisha placing his hands on the king's, he let an arrow fly out the window (hopefully missing everyone and everything!) while Elisha declared, "The Lord's arrow of victory over Aram! You will completely destroy the Arameans at Aphek." Quite a dramatic moment.
Secondly, he had the King of Israel strike the ground, and the king obediently struck the ground three times, and stopped. Not good. He stopped short. "You should have struck the ground five or six times, then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times," Elisha declared.
Big bummer. Given the way Jesus talks of praying and not giving up, and the woman prevailing with the judge in Luke 18, is it possible that often we do not persist in prayer, and the results are accordingly meager?
Samuel Hebich was a missionary in India in the early 1800's and prayer played a vital role in his evangelistic efforts.
"He was always afraid of working in his own strength lest, as he said, 'the ass's ears of the old Adam should peep out.' His work was steeped in prayer, and he could not go forth unless he had the witness of the Spirit of being led to victory."
Another missionary witnessed the following.
"One day, the bullock cart was waiting for Hebich to come out of the house to go to Cannanore to preach to the Moplahs. He rushed out of the house as though he were in a great hurry, but he did not get into the cart. There he stood as though he had forgotten something. Suddenly he turned on his heels and went into the house."
"He was gone for some time. Then he came out again, but did not enter the cart. He returned to his room, stayed there for some time, came out, entered the cart, and told the driver to go on. When we came to the gate he suddenly called out: 'Stop!'
"The driver stopped and for the third time he hurried into the house and remained there for quite a long time. When he came out of his room for the third time I enquired: 'What is the matter brother Hebich? Three times you started to go away and each time returned to your room. What is wrong?'
With a happy, smiling face the old man replied: 'Why brother Diez, you see that I am going to Cannanore to preach to the Molpahs, but how can I go unless I am sure of victory? I thought God had heard my prayer when I started the first time, but I wasn't sure, so I went back, but I had no assurance even then.'
'Being impatient I did not take time to wait on the Lord, so I had to go three times. Now I am sure of victory, for I have now the witness of the Spirit.'"
