The History of Prayer
The first use of the word “pray” in the Old Testament is actually used by God. When Abraham was traveling in Gerar, he feared the that the people, like the Egyptians, might find Sara desirable and seek to kill him and take Sarah. For a second time, he asked his wife, his legal half-sister, to claim that she was only his sister, for his sake. (Genesis 20:
Abimelech took Sarah, but had not violated her. Instead his people were struck with sickness, just as Pharaoh and his people had experienced in Genesis 12.
God appeared to Abimelech in a dream and revealed Abraham’s secret. In his defense, Abimelech acted in the integrity of his heart, knowing only the testimony of Abraham and Sarah, who both disavowed their marital relationship. This God knew, and commanded him instead:
“Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her. Now the, return the man’s wife, for h e is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live.” (Genesis 20:6b-7a)
Abraham was commanded to intercede on Abimelech’s behalf. Abimelech knew the meaning of prayer and didn’t require to be taught. Abraham had an established ability to pray, for God calls him a prophet for this very reason.
Drawing Near
But how did they already know about his action? If we step back a few chapters, we find Abraham “drawing near” to God for the purpose of intercession for the people of Sodom. Genesis 18:23 records him “drawing near” to God and barganing to save the city for the sake of fifty, no forty-five, no forty, no thirty, no twenty, no a mere ten.
God didn’t save the city by Abraham’s plea, for even ten could not be found. But when two angels came to take what righteous there were out of the city, Lot pleaded that he could not reach safety at the distance he was commanded, but requested that Zoar, a nearby city, be their refuge and the angels consented.
But where did Abraham learn to approach God by drawing near? What did sinful, finite man know of a relationship with God?
Walking with God
Turning back again, we see a few short verses on the life of Enoch. Aside from grandfathering Methuselah, the oldest man recorded in Scripture, it is said of him:
“Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.” (Genesis 5:24)
What do we know of walking with God? It was during the cool of the day that God sought Adam and Eve, while they were ashamed. It’s a habit instituted by God, yet slighted by our sin. God walked in the garden with His creation. There was a time when our relationship was a conversation in the garden. It was then that we saw “face-to-face”, but now we see “through a mirror dimly” (1 Corinthians 13:12). We shall again fully know, as we have been fully known.
Conversations with God
It’s here that we find the core of prayer, that our heart seeks a relationship. We need the conversation, the companionship. It’s not simply lip service, but a matter of the heart, for the prophet Isaiah writes the oracle of God, “[these] people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while they hearts are far from me.”
Christ, our great and perfect high priest, takes on the mantle of intercession in Hebrews 4 and reminds us of the power we have, through faith, to pursue this friendship once again: grace.
“Since then we have a great high priest who passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. … Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14, 16)
No longer must we cover our same with fig leaves. No longer is the favored garden guarded by powerful angels with flaming swords. But the curtain is torn and the price is paid.
Let us pursue our relationship once again and start a conversation today. Not to lay our pleas and needs before Him, but to listen to God, our great and awesome King, Creator, and Father. Cry out again, “Abba! Father!”
