Groaning is often associated with a deep inarticulate sound conveying pain and despair. However, biblical groaning conveys the idea of deep and earnest emotion, John 11:33. Scholars refer to this as a sign of mental distress. Yet, in the passage below, this groaning are the prayers of the Israelites lifted up to God during the 400 years of slavery in Egypt. These groans were heard by the Lord.
I have also heard the groaning of the Israelites whom the Egyptians have enslaved; and I have [earnestly] remembered My covenant [with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob], Exodus 6:5.
In the final days of Israel’s 400 years living as slaves in Egypt, they reached their breaking point. When Pharaoh decided to no longer provide hay for workers and still expected the same quota of daily production, groaning lifted up to the God Most High. Despite the lack of improvement and progress seen by these oppressed people, the Lord heard their cries for help.
Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working], James 5:16.
The earthly brother of Jesus provides a helpful tip for modern-day groaning. According to James, false steps, mistakes and offenses should be immediately confessed publicly. Similar to programs available for addicts, the sooner you realize you have a problem, the quicker you will receive the help that you need. As the world continues to fall apart, may today’s groanings in prayer be heard and answered by the Great I Am.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 