Episode 2753 - Lesson 6 - Thursday May 07 - Moses intercedes for a Nation

Moses Intercedes for a NationRead Exodus 32:31-32. What does this teach us about Moses and prayer?Moses boldly interceded for God’s people time and time again. Moses turned to God when the people were thirsty (Exod. 15:25; Exod. 17:2-6), when the people were hungry (Num. 11:21-22), and in sheer desperation (Num. 11:11-15).When the Israelites built the golden calf immediately after God had covenanted with them, Moses recalled, “For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure with which the LORD was angry with you, to destroy you. But the LORD listened to me at that time also” (Deut. 9:19, NKJV).When the spies returned from the Promised Land, Moses recalled, “Thus I prostrated myself before the LORD; forty days and forty nights I kept prostrating myself, because the LORD had said He would destroy you” (Deut. 9:25, NKJV).When Levi was separated from the other tribes to serve in the sanctuary, Moses recalled, “As at the first time, I stayed in the mountain forty days and forty nights; the LORD also heard me at that time, and the LORD chose not to destroy you” (Deut. 10:10, NKJV). God heard Moses’ plea.We can learn much from Moses’ life when it comes to prayer and holding fast to God:Moses had a deep love for God, and a clear picture of His character. God described Himself to Moses in Exodus 34:6: “the LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth” (NKJV).Moses was both bold and faithful as he held on to God through the ups and downs of the weary journey to the Promised Land. Though struggling as we all do, Moses trusted God’s power, presence, and leading in his own life (Exod. 33:13).Moses reminded God of His covenant (Exod. 32:13), claimed God’s promises on behalf of His people (Deut. 7:8), and remembered God’s leading in the past (Deut. 8:2).Moses accepted God’s answers to his prayers, whether it was a yes or a no. Being in a close relationship with God doesn’t automatically mean we’ll always get what we want (Deut. 3:23-29), but we should pray with persistence anyway (Luke 18:1-8).Who needs your intercessory prayers right now? What is stopping you from praying right now?