Here’s a prayer of confession based on Numbers 21, in which the Israelites once again complain against God for bringing them out of the land of Egypt.
Prayer of Reconciliation
(based on Numbers 21: 4-9)
O God of Comfort and God of Challenge,
we come to you this morning the way the Israelites did,
full of complaints and dissatisfaction.
Nothing is enough;
we do not recognize your blessing at work in our day to day lives.
Forgive us when we become so comfortable
that we moan and groan about
the most insignificant details of our lives.
In our complaints, challenge us as you did the Israelites,
to consider the bigger picture
of oppression, injustice, and inequality around us.
Forgive us when we close our eyes for fear of what you might show us;
keep sending loving and compassionate leaders
to open our eyes until we see what you see in our world.
— from So Loved: Service Prayers for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, written by the Rev. Dr. Ginny Brown Daniel. Posted on the United Church of Christ’s Worship Ways website.
