v 9.  Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.

You may not be thinking of Moses as a prophet, but this is what we read in Deuteronomy 34:10  ‘There has never been another prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.’ So hurrah – at last a messenger to offer hope to the enslaved people of Israel! But did he have an easy ride as a prophet? He certainly did not! Did the people welcome him as a Deliverer, and follow him without grumbling? Again – a resounding NO. What must it have been like leading that disgruntled mob through the desert for 40 years? And don’t forget, he was over 80 when God called him to the task.

So what was it that sustained Moses over the years? Simple – he enjoyed time in the presence of God more than any of the other prophets we read about.

If we can uncover anything about being a spokesperson for God, it is this – strength comes through seeking and enjoying the presence of God. It was not just Moses, it was Isaiah and Jeremiah, and all the other prophets of God. Being quiet in the presence of God to listen to him is the soul’s strengthening exercise. Getting away from, or even just shutting out, the frenetic activity of the world in order to listen to God prepares us to become messengers for God.