“And his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.” (Exodus 17:12)

The power of Moses’ prayer was so great that everything depended on it. Moses’ petitions disrupted the enemy more effectively than Joshua’s fighting. Yet, both were necessary. In our spiritual struggles, we must combine strength and fervour, determination and devotion, courage and intensity, and all will be well. You must wrestle with your sins, but most of that struggle should take place alone in prayer with God.

Prayer, like Moses’, holds up the covenant before the Lord. The rod represented God’s power working through Moses and symbolised His governance over Israel. Learn, O devoted believer, to present God’s promises and oaths before Him. The Lord cannot deny His own declarations. Hold up the rod of promise, and you will receive what you ask.

Moses grew weary, and his friends came to his aid. Whenever your prayer life falters, let faith support one hand and holy hope uplift the other. As prayer rests upon the rock of our salvation, it will continue and prevail. Be vigilant against wearying in devotion; if Moses experienced it, who can escape? It is much easier to fight against sin in public than to pray against it in private.

It is noted that Joshua never grew tired in battle, while Moses did grow weary in prayer; the more spiritual the exercise, the harder it is for our physical selves to sustain it. Let us cry out for special strength, and may the Spirit of God, who helps our weaknesses, as He helped Moses, empower us to keep our hands steady “until the going down of the sun”—until the evening of life is over.

We reach the dawn of a better life in the land where prayer is transformed into praise.