KNOWN BY NAME

KNOWN BY NAME
March 19, 2018

Prayer: Thank You, Lord that You have promised to go with me this day.  As You promised Moses rest, I ask You Lord to lead my heart into restful places as I trust You to lead and guide in my classrooms today.

Scripture: Then the LORD said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.  Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.” The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’  If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”  The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33: 1-3, 11-14 NIV

Notice that in verse 12 God has told Moses “I know you by name and you have found favor with me.” God knows all of you by name, and loves you very much. He also knows each of your students by name. He knows everything about you and everything about them. They have been placed in your care so that under your instruction you can help them to become the people God planned for them to be.

When you are taking attendance; pray down your class list. If you only have one class, pray over them each morning or afternoon when they have left your care. If you have more than one class, pray at each desk and in your doorway for each student who passes through. Go down your class list and pray specifically for students by name. Ponder what God might have planned for them as you write your lesson plans. Ask God to show you what they need and to give you the wisdom to teach them.

Now take a look back at verse 3. If it was not such a sad statement, it would almost be humorous. If you think you have a challenging set of students, talk to God. He will understand. I am sure you have all had days where you sent your class on to art, lunch, or onto their next class and you had to keep your distance from them because they had struck your last nerve. How distressing it must have been to know that God was so fed up with you that He could not go with you to the Promised Land.

The Israelites repented and then in verse 11 we read a cherished verse that we long for deep in our hearts. Moses would go into the tent and God would speak to Him face to face as a friend. Moses kept the perspective that these people were not his but God’s and said to God “Remember this nation is Your people.”

Finally in verse 14, God agreed to go with them. No matter how great of a teacher you are, you can not go it alone. He knows your students. Invite Him into your room; ask Him to show you His ways and His plans, and He will help you. My prayer for you is that you would find favor and rest with our God who knows you by name.

Copyright Kathy Branzell.  Email [email protected]