Leave a Comment / Daily Bible / By Barry Coker
Exodus 32:11-14 (ESV):
“O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’” Then the Lord relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people.
In the midst of the Israelites’ grievous sin—crafting a golden calf in Moses’ absence—we witness Moses passionately interceding for the Israelites, unleashing the transformative power of intercession and revealing the responsive nature of our merciful God.
Moses’ Bold Intercession
Moses stands before the Lord, acknowledging His power and might, and with fervor pleads for the preservation of His people. Moses’ appeals are poignant: he highlights God’s reputation among the Egyptians, expressing concern that they might perceive His actions as malevolent. Additionally, Moses invokes God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, reminding Him of the promise to make their descendants as numerous as the stars.
Echoes of Intercession
We have significant examples of the power of interceding throughout the Bible. I want to call our attention back to these events and how God responded to the prayers of His people. Try to visualize yourself in their position. Prayer was the only option they had and prayer was all they needed. Why? Because they were praying to an all-powerful God. A God who responded to their cry. He heard them. He has an ear ready to hear them. As the children of Israel cried from Egypt, God heard their cries and sent Moses. Praise God He hears us and sends the Holy Spirit, other believers, and even the wicked to meet our needs. The power of intercession cannot be overstated. Prayer moves the heart of almighty God. Jesus invites us to continually come boldly to His throne of grace. Do you want to move the heart of God? Pray for someone other than yourself. Pray for the lost, pray for the sick, pray for the downcast, pray for the brethren, pray! Pray for others and see God do great and wonderful things that you know not. Ask, seek, knock, and find what you are asking for. Intercede like Moses. Intercede like these before us. Pray without ceasing!
Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV):
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Abraham’s Plea for Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:23-33):
“Then Abraham drew near and said, ‘Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?’”
Samuel’s Intercession for Israel (1 Samuel 7:8-9):
“And Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him.”
Job’s Intercessory Sacrifice (Job 1:5):
“And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all.”
Elijah’s Fiery Intercession (1 Kings 18:36-37):
“And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, ‘O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word.’”
Intercession in Action
Paul’s Passionate Prayer for Israel (Romans 10:1):
“Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.”
Timothy’s Call to Intercession (1 Timothy 2:1-4):
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.”
Stephen’s Intercession for His Persecutors (Acts 7:60):
“And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’”
James’ Call to Prayer
Underlining the enduring power of prayer, James refers to Elijah’s fervent prayer that held back rain for three and a half years. This exemplifies how the righteous, through earnest intercession, can impact the natural elements. Who controls the universe? God does! God is omnipotent and if we ask anything according to His will He hears us.
James 5:16-18 (ESV):
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months, it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.”
Elijah a man with faults and failures prayed with great power. Why such power? Because Elijah was honest with God. He agreed with God when he was down under that juniper tree. He admitted to God that he was ready to quit, that he felt all alone and was afraid. He confessed his faults. He confessed his sin of unbelief and aren’t all sins a sin of unbelief at their heart? If we believed God wouldn’t that cause us to sin less? I say to our hearts today that “without faith, it is impossible to please God.” Will we let go of our iniquity and see God do marvelous things?
Psalm 66:18 (ESV):
“If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.”
Jesus, Our Ultimate Intercessor
The ultimate Intercessor is Jesus Christ Himself. On the cross, Jesus interceded for humanity, praying, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” His sacrificial intercession paves the way for our redemption, offering forgiveness and reconciliation with God. In John 17 Jesus prays for all those who believe including you and I. If you need confirmation of how Jesus intercedes for you today just read it. an amazing prayer in the garden for His disciples both present and to come. Jesus ever lives to make intercession for us! Somebody is praying for you. Jesus! Shouldn’t we pray for others too?
God’s Unchanging Promises
In verse 13, Moses invokes the covenant God made with Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. This echoes the unchanging nature of God’s promises. As heirs of the promise through faith, we can stand firm, for God’s mercy and faithfulness endure throughout the ages. Our mistakes do not define us; rather, God’s promises shape our identity and guide our journey.
May this exploration of intercession ignite a flame of hope and encouragement within your hearts. Remember, our God is merciful, and His promises endure forever.
As we reflect on Moses’ bold intercession and the echoes of intercession throughout the Old and New Testaments, let us be inspired to become intercessors in the world. Never forget that prayer transcends space and time. Pray today and watch what God will do.
Psalm 5 (KJV):
- Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation.
- Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.
- My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
Let our prayers be fervent and compassionate, standing in the gap for those in need.
Intercession is not just a historical practice but a living expression of faith. It’s an invitation to participate in God’s redemptive work, aligning our hearts with His and becoming vessels of His mercy. May our intercession be guided by love, just as Moses pleaded with God out of love for the people.
Let us also take a moment to consider our “golden calves” — the distractions and idols that divert our attention from God. Like the Israelites, we are prone to wander, but God, in His mercy, calls us back into His embrace.
Intercession weaves a beautiful narrative of God’s responsiveness to the cries of His people. Our prayers, no matter how imperfect, find resonance in the perfect intercession of Jesus, whoever lives to intercede for us (Hebrews 7:25).
So, as you journey through this day, may you be a beacon of intercession in your community. Be encouraged by the transformative power of prayer, knowing that through it, we partner with God in His redemptive story.
Today I want to encourage you to leave prayer requests in the comment section of our blog. We read these and promise to pray specifically for them. We believe in the power of prayer and want to encourage you in your walk of faith. May the Lord bless you abundantly as you embrace the call to intercede with faith, compassion, and love.