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All who have the eyes of faith to see are inspired by the gracious way the Lord so patiently and faithfully taught His servant Moses. As the Lord continued to lead him, Moses had been learning to humbly respond and obey.

It was while he was still a young child that this essential process began. Those early formative years were spent in the home of his parents, Amram and Jocabed. Their example and influence remained with Moses, even during the years he spent as the son of Pharaoh's daughter ... that period when he received the best training and education which Egypt could provide.

Forced to flee from Egypt when he was forty years old, he threw in his lot with a man named Reuel. There, in that relationship, we see Moses (who was becoming the man of prayer), coming under the influence of Reuel --the friend of God! This new relationship was to contribute so much to his understanding of God and His ways. Vital practical aspects of the life of true prayer were taught to him on Mt. Horeb, as he stood near the burning bush.

His return to Egypt, to his people, and, especially the angry rebuff of Pharaoh, also contributed to his comprehension of the incredible potential of the life of prayer. The Lord had so patiently been teaching him these vital principles of prayer. Then, his faithful application of those principles was reaching effective fruition.

This fact was most certainly witnessed as the people of Israel crossed the Red Sea on dry ground. By prayer, faith, and obedience, Moses and the Israelites were privileged to witness the final irreversible defeat of Pharaoh, along with the utter destruction of all of Egypt's military forces.

All of this was accomplished by the Lord as He made of it a vital and dynamic reality as the direct result of: PRAYER -- the prayer of faith! "God never does anything, except in answer to prayer." God had done everything He had promised to do, in answer to the prayer of faith which claimed His promise.

With the resounding victory over the Egyptians behind them, they could press on in their march. They could be assured that all other aspects of the glorious promises of the Lord were theirs to claim ... by faith. Press on. The road ahead challenged their response, but Moses was aware that the decision to press on with the march was premature, even if the desire to do so was so completely human. There was something else which must command their attention. The very significant aspect of true prayer which Moses was learning was of the greatest importance: PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING!

This aspect of prayer was one which he would have first experienced in the home of Amram and Jocabed. We have only to think of the safe arrival of their baby son as he was entrusted to their care by Pharaoh's daughter. What a great time of praise and thanksgiving they would have had that day!

"Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for He hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea." (v. 1)

In this dramatic expression of praise and thanksgiving, it is so very obvious that it was Moses himself who led in the singing of this song to the Lord. His own experience dynamically motivating this essential personal example, the amazing record of all the Lord had accomplished in him and in his life, also, through his service. It is understandable that there rose from his heart such a thrilling note of joy and praise. "I will sing!" He spontaneously led the congregation.

His enthusiasm and excitement in expressing his genuine thanksgiving burst forth in praise and worship. His genuine worship and praise was contagious, being immediately taken up by all the people. They needed no other motivation than to see this expression of joy as Moses honored and glorified the Lord. Their participation was spontaneous.

The second aspect of this personal focus is also unmistakable: "I will sing unto: The LORD!" They had no doubt about the reality! Every aspect of their deliverance and victory was the direct result of the Lord's intervention in grace and power. They could not, did not, attempt to claim any of the credit or glory for themselves. No praise was due to man. All of the praise and the thanksgiving must go to the Lord.

In this response we see an integral part of true prayer. It is so important that we understand this today. Every day we need to allow the grace of the Lord to inspire us to express genuine praise and thankfulness to the Lord. If it is true that we spend little time thanking the Lord, we reveal an attitude of ingratitude! Yet there are so many who are so preoccupied with making their requests that little or no emphasis is placed on praising the One who deserves all praise.

Moses had early learned that praise and thanksgiving were a vital element of all true praying. As the result of this, his prayer became much more effective.

As we seek to learn to pray more effectively, we will give ourselves to genuine and joyful expression of praise and thanksgiving. "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise!" (Psalm 100: 4)

As Moses and the Israelites viewed the results of that day's events, they could see the dramatic evidence of the glorious victory. The Lord's victory!

The Lord knows just how prone people are to want to claim the glory of the victory for themselves. It was for this reason He told Gideon, "Lest Israel vaunt themselves against Me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. " (Judges 7: 2)

Moses and the Israelites knew and acknowledged the truth that day. If there was a glorious victory, and there was, it was not their doing. They could claim neither the credit nor the glory. All they had done was to hear, trust, and obey the Word of the Lord. He alone could claim the glory for this victory. "He hath triumphed gloriously!" Therefore, they thankfully gave to Him all the praise and all the glory. "The horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea!" This was not accomplished by any device or strategy of man. This was the Lord's doing.

"His alone!" Therefore, all of the praise, the glory, and the thanksgiving are "His alone!" True prayer always recognizes this essential reality, even as the person who truly prays, always bows in humble sincere thanksgiving to acknowledge all of the gracious goodness of His love to us.

"The LORD is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation: He is my God, and I will prepare Him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt Him!" (v. 2)

"The LORD is my strength and song!" The emphasis of these words is so very significant. The priority is so rightly given to the Lord ... focusing all attention on Him. This is the way it should always be. Every other circumstance is at best secondary.

"The LORD is!" This is the most essential and significant fact of our experience as Christians. It is the one key element which influences and controls every other circumstance. Everything else may fluctuate and change. This essential, controlling fact never changes: "The LORD is!" "I AM THAT I AM!"

"The LORD is my strength!" He is the infinite eternal unchanging resource of strength for His people ... for all areas of their lives and their service. He is absolutely faithful ... reliable ... invincible ... victorious! It was also in the place of prayer that the Apostle Paul expressed this desire, that you may "be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man!" (Ephesians 3:16) In this prayer he reveals the desire and will of God for all of His people!

Because "the LORD is my strength," it naturally follows: "The LORD is my song!" He is my victory song! He is the One who constantly inspires the shout of triumphant praise. He not only inspires that shout, He is the One to whom both the song and the shout of praise are directed. It is in this experience of victorious rejoicing that the Lord would have His people constantly live. It is to reveal this goal of His that He seeks to reveal to us the incredible potential of prayer.

"He is become my salvation" when it appeared as though salvation was completely impossible ... with the Egyptians marching up behind them, and the Red Sea in front of them! "Stand still and see the salvation of the LORD!" "He is my salvation!" This is the thrilling experience of all those who have learned to live in the secret place of prayer.

These statements pulsate with the excited joy of a deep and thrilling anticipation. The LORD! --The great "I AM" -- My God living with me! The prospect of such a personal and continuing relationship inspires this enthusiastic cry of joyful aspiration. "I will prepare a place where He can continually dwell, so that I will ever know His presence and fellowship. Prepare, so that I can live with the conscious conviction: I am in His presence!"

"That (the LORD Jesus) Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith!" (Ephesians 3: 17) We will be the dwelling place of God "filled with all the fullness of God!" (Ephesians 3: 19) This is so amazing. "We will come unto him, and make our abode with him!" (John 14: 23) The infinite eternal God, choosing to dwell in the habitation which we prepare for Him.

He is "My father's God, and I will exalt Him!" Honor Him in every possible way. Seek to glorify Him in every aspect of life. Be motivated to please Him in the service to which He calls us. Exalt His Name! He is so worthy! What a glorious challenge! What an amazing privilege! What an awesome responsibility!

Pharaoh had launched his brazen attack with the demand, "Who is the LORD?" He refused to recognize Him! He insisted that he would never acknowledge the Lord! His attitude placed him in the wrong position when he discovered "the LORD is a Man of war!" To reject God's Word and resist His will has this inevitable effect, even though God seeks to be gracious. But when His grace and mercy are spurned and rejected, He moves in awesome judgment!

Pharaoh was given a choice. He could have let the people go. He refused. Now, Egypt was broken! Its mighty armed forces decimated! Why? Pharaoh chose to know: "The LORD is a Man of war!"

"If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8: 31) This is the constant assurance of His people. Shared by those who live in the place of prayer.

"For the weapons of our warfare are.... mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." (2 Corinthians 10: 4, 5)

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5: 16) The Man of war, in power is assured. Such prayer unites us with the Lord in His mighty power to experience His glorious victory.

"In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us." (Romans 8: 37) This truth inspires praise and thanksgiving!

"Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath He cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea. The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone." (vv. 4, 5)

As Moses and the Israelites stood on the shores of the Red Sea, they surveyed the results of God's acts. The evidence was as dramatic as it was unmistakable. Only a few hours earlier, the Egyptian army had posed such an ominous threat. Now? Nothing! Every horse and chariot --destroyed. Every one of Pharaoh's best captains -- finished. The entire army -- no more -- never to be a threat to Israel ever again!

They stood and surveyed the irrevocable evidence of this incredible victory. They knew they could claim no credit whatsoever, nor any of the glory. "He," the Lord, "had cast them into the sea!" "Stand still and see the salvation of the LORD!" Moses their leader had contributed the prayer of faith. The people had contributed the obedience of faith. That was all.

Far more often than we would sometimes care to admit, the same is true for us ... true of every victory which we have ever experienced in our Christians lives. The only thing which we can ever bring is: the humble obedience of faith!

"Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: Thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy." (v.6)

That was the key then! It is still today, and always will be the key to true victory for the people of God. Why is it that this is such a crucial lesson for us as Christians, yet we prove to be so reluctant to learn it? Why do we deceive ourselves by insisting on imagining that there are some victories which we can win by our own effort? Rather than such an attitude, such confidence, leading to victory, it always leads to inevitable defeat! Always!

The Lord Jesus still reminds us: "Without Me ye can do nothing." (John 15: 5) NOTHING! Let GOD be GOD! Let Him be all He seeks to be in our lives. Let Him reveal the astonishing wonder of His sovereign glory and power ... His sufficiency and victory!

Humble obedient faith is thankful to be able to share Paul's testimony: "Most gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12: 9)

Every day, in every experience, the Lord is seeking to reveal His glorious sufficiency. Inspiring our response of praise and thanksgiving. "Thy right hand, O LORD, is glorious in power!"

What a prayer of praise, adoration and thanksgiving. It lifts the heart ever higher and higher in expressing the wonder, the glory, and the greatness of the Lord. "The greatness of Thine Excellency!" This is not just the imaginative flight of a mind which is pursuing extravagance. This is the humble, sincere, worshipping cry of one who has seen the glory of the greatness of God in a new way.

Once the thought of Moses had been: "What can I do to set my people free?" Such thoughts had been utterly extinguished by the radiant glory of the greatness of the Excellency of God -- in all He did to set the people free. Mere human ideas and words prove to be so utterly inadequate, especially as Moses attempts to express the indescribable wonder which he experienced. He has been so privileged to see more and more of the Excellency of the infinite glory of the Lord.

When Moses challenged the Israelites, "Stand still and see the salvation of the LORD," could he himself have anticipated this development, seeing such an indescribable revelation of the infinite excellence of the majestic glory of the Lord?

Do we today desire to see more of the glory of the Lord? There is a cost involved -- a price to be paid to share in such a privilege. For Moses, it cost him everything so as to be able to learn what it meant to be a person of prayer. He could only come to this moment of praise as he walked the pathway of total submission to the Word and will of the Lord. What a privilege! What a genuine, thrilling expression of praise.

The Lord wants to be able to lead all of His people into this dynamic reality. He wants us each to witness: "The greatness of His excellency!"

"Thou sentest forth Thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble. And with the blast of Thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the flood stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea." (vv. 7, 8)

Pharaoh had expressed himself in arrogant contempt: "Who is the LORD?" The Lord responded to that self-serving challenge of a mere man in the most awe-inspiring demonstration of His infinite sovereign power. A finite creature was so foolish as to invite the wrath of the infinite Creator.

"Who is the LORD?" He is the Sovereign Creator whose Word wields awesome and absolute power over the entire creation! Moses bowed in humble adoration, awed by the realization: This is the One who called me to be His instrument! In His grace He chooses to use me to accomplish His great and glorious purposes!

Why me when He has such incredible resources at His disposal? All He needs to do is: speak the Word ... or think the thought! Yet, in His grace He involves me in accomplishing His objectives.

He still does! This reality is so utterly amazing! How we are inspired to bow in the expression of devoted worship and adoration.

"The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them." (v. 9)

"I will!" "I will!" "I will!" Repeatedly the bold assertion is expressed. "My!" "My!" It is all so self-centered and egotistical! But, surely Pharaoh and the Egyptians had every reason to anticipate success. After all, that Egyptian army was the mightiest military force then known to man!

They could anticipate success, yes! But only if they left God out of their reckoning. Which is exactly what they did. That was their fatal mistake. They are not unique in such a foolish oversight. This same attitude controls the thinking of multitudes, in all the varied ventures of life. Even so many who claim to be Christians.

"I will!" says man, and rushed wildly on! His problem came home in the inevitable moment when he hurled himself into the "I WILL!" of God! The Egyptians were whistling into the wind when they claimed, "I will!" Their foolishness is exposed when it became clear which wind they were whistling into -- the hurricane-force wind of God's judgment! Pharaoh said, "I will!" The Lord responded, "I WILL! I WILL be honored upon Pharaoh that the Egyptians may know that I AM THE LORD!"

"If God be for us, who can be against us?" To have God's "I WILL!" working for us, is to have absolutely everything needed to be more than conqueror! It is to have absolute victory!

"Who is like unto Thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like Thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?"(v. 11)

"Who is like unto Thee?" It is in adoration and worship that Moses expresses this question. Even as he knows that the answer is irrevocably and eternally established. No one! Absolutely no one! The majesty of the eternal uniqueness of the Lord can never be challenged. Never! His character is so uniquely perfect -- "glorious in holiness!" The holiness which is so infinitely perfect, radiates with the most amazing and indescribable majesty. Holiness which is glorious, far beyond the ability of our finite minds to even begin to comprehend.

"Glorious in holiness!" Isaiah saw! (see Isaiah 6) He was immediately and totally humbled by the impact! Moses saw! He was inspired to respond in self-humiliation as he gave himself to worship, praise, and adore the Lord. It automatically follows that this One, who is "glorious in holiness", is also "fearful in praises!"

When once any person begins to really sense the glory of His holiness, the impact is awesome. We find our hearts and minds silenced by the incredible awareness of the reverence and honor which is due to this One. Like Isaiah, we become so deeply conscious of our constant failure to honor Him in the way of which He is worthy. This realization brings us to the point where we are gripped by the comprehension: This God is "fearful in praises!"

Moses, in awe and wonder, surveyed the evidence. Only the Lord God, could accomplish all that he had witnessed that day. Only God could be honored as the One who was "doing wonders!"

Have we the eyes to see this reality? Do we have the spiritual awareness to recognize that the Lord is still "doing wonders," even today? He is still doing wonders ... far beyond the limited scope of our comprehension to grasp!

That was all it took! His right hand stretched out! "Speak the Word!" Stretch out Your hand! That is all it takes. The Lord is still ... LORD!

The thankful heart watches in great awe and wonder, inspired continuously to rejoice in the infinite greatness of our God ... bowing in prayerful awe and worship ... expressing praise and thanksgiving for every gracious evidence of the greatness of the Lord whom we are privileged to serve.

"Thou in Thy mercy hast led forth the people which Thou hast redeemed: Thou hast guided them in Thy strength unto Thy holy habitation." (v.13)

The power of the Lord was revealed in two most decisive ways. On the one hand, in the most awesome judgment on the Egyptians. On the other, in the exciting demonstration of the Lord's amazing grace as He moved in the effective deliverance of the Israelites. Only the Lord could have redeemed and delivered the people in the way He did. In His mercy He led them, effectively and victoriously! It was all His doing. He so rightly received all of the honor and all of the praise.

In His mighty strength He had so completely humiliated all of the vaunted might of Egypt! In that same strength He had faithfully protected and guided His people. He walked with them every step of the way.

How it must have brought to Moses the most thrilling excitement to know the goal which the Lord had set. The goal to which He moved in such great power. It was "Thy holy habitation." It was the Lord's will, His strong personal desire, that His people enter into the most wonderful fellowship with Him. To be His people ... in every sense of the word!

As the people of God today, we still have every reason to constantly praise the Lord ... particularly as we remember that day by day He so patiently, so faithfully leads us to "His holy habitation!" He seeks to draw us into the closest, most personal fellowship which we will share as we enter "His holy habitation" ... that we might be His holy Temple, continually indwelt by Him! How humbling, how inspiring, is this amazing and thrilling reality of His grace to us!

Moses became increasingly excited as he realized more and more of the ramifications of the Lord's victory over the Egyptians. He knew that the news of the victory would spread so rapidly. People everywhere would be astonished at the reports of the amazing things which the Lord had done for His people.

Moses knew that as the news spread, it would have a most dramatic impact on the minds of all who heard. Everywhere people would become convinced of the almighty power of the Lord! "All who hear will be afraid" ... no matter who they were! Egypt had been justified in boasting that they had the most powerful, the most formidable, military machine. The Lord had utterly decimated it! No wonder all others would be afraid!

Moses referred to specific nations: Palestina, or Philistina, would with great grief and sorrow realize the implications of this news for them. The people of Edom would be amazed! Moab would tremble! The inhabitants of Canaan would melt away! The impact of the mighty arm of the Lord would cause those who heard to be incapacitated by fear ... particularly as they realized why God was moving in such power ... not only to deliver His people, but also to give to them the land He had promised to them.

These verses speak so forcefully of the glory of the Lord ...of His majestic power ... His sovereign sufficiency. All to achieve His will for His people. Do we, as His people, know anything of this reality in our experience? Can we? Should we?

God is still the same! His sovereign power and glory are still the same. He is still able to do everything He has ever done! Is the problem in us? Lack of faith? Lack of confidence in the Lord? Are we limiting Him by our unbelief and disobedience?

Rejoicing in the Lord and His victory inspire true adoration and worship. The spirit of adoration and worship leads quite naturally into the shout of faith, as in the place of prayer, the man of God confidently claims the promise.

"Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of Thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which Thou hast made for Thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O LORD - which Thy hands have established." (v. 17)

Faith confidently and boldly reaches out to grasp the full fruition of the promise. Every aspect of the commitment of the Lord to His people is guaranteed. Nothing, absolutely nothing, could possible cause the outcome to be anything but glorious victory!

Notice the central focus of this emphasis: "Thine inheritance!" "The place, O LORD, which Thou hast made for Thee to dwell in!" This glorious truth illuminates the heart and mind enabling the servant of the Lord to view the thrilling vision: It is the will and purpose of the Lord that His people be truly one with Him ... one in the fellowship of heart and mind continually. That is the Lord's vision of our relationship with Him. When it becomes our vision, there will rise from our hearts and lips the spontaneous shout of praise and thanksgiving!

The expression of heart-felt praise, worship and adoration continues to rise ever higher and higher. It increasingly pulsates between the two-fold springs of motivation. There is revealed the amazing blessing of the people of God. It is expressed in and through all the Lord has done to bless His people, therein demonstrating the wonder of the eternal glory of the Lord ... the infinite, limitless, extent of the indescribable sovereign eternal glory of the Lord! This is prayer ... prayer as it rises higher and higher to honor and glorify our great and gracious God!

How we need to allow the Lord to increasingly lead us out into the personal experience of prayer at this level. Yes, we rejoice so greatly to express praise and thanksgiving to Him for His incredible works of grace for us, in us and through us. Yet our hearts and minds soar higher, leaving behind any thought of ourselves and the blessings we have received. Our prayers focus of Him! All our praises focus on Him ... and all that He is!

He does reign forever and ever. He reigns in infinite glory and majesty as all bow in adoration before Him to give to Him all praise ... all honor ... all glory ... all majesty! Do we begin to see the glory? Do we begin to share this amazing experience? Does our faith thrill to stand on this assured reality?

By the mighty acts of God, He accomplished this reality. The Egyptians, who had dared to oppose the will of the Lord, were judged to never again become a major issue in the lives of His people, Israel. His covenant people were graciously and gloriously delivered!

This was the amazing foretaste of the continuing victories which the Lord was yet to give to them as He led them in the fullness of His perfect will. The song and the shout of praise was the most appropriate response. Along with joyful worship, adoration and thanksgiving.

Moses, the man of prayer, so faithfully expressed it all as from his heart of humble love he sought to honor and glorify the Lord who was so worthy! This is a most inspiring example for us today -- an example of true prayer --the prayer which in love rises to the heights to express praise and thanksgiving ... all from the heart which is motivated to honor and glorify His Name. This aspect of prayer is so essential. It is essential in developing a deep, personal relationship with the Lord who seeks to reveal the wonder of His glory -- to us and in us!