Doctrine of Prayer-Part 13

Prairie View Christian Church Pastor Bill Wenstrom First Two Weeks of July Doctrine of Prayer Doctrine of Prayer-Part 13 4 th Important Part of Prayer: Intercession Last month we studied one of the great intercessory prayers of the Old Testament, namely Abraham s intercession for Abimelech. Abraham prayed for Abimelech and his family to be healed (Gen. 20:1-7) after Abimelech had unknowingly had taken Abraham s wife Sarah into his harem. This month we will study the intercessory prayers of Moses. In Exodus 32, Moses interceded for the children of Israel after they rebelled against the Lord and built the golden calf while Moses was having fellowship with the Lord for 40 days and nights on Mount Sinai (Ex. 32:1-14). Like Abraham, Moses was a man of great faith and this is recorded in the Bible. In fact, Moses is listed in God s Hall of Fame of Faith Hebrews 11. Heb 11:24-29 24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. 2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 1

27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. 29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned. The life of Moses is divided into three equal portions of forty years each (Acts 7:23,30,36): (1) Life in Egypt: Moses birth, adoption into the home of Pharaoh, and the avenging of his countrymen. (2) Exile in Midian (Arabia): Middle years of Moses' life where he was married, call by God to service, and culminating in his return to Egypt as a prophet of God. (3) In the Wilderness as Leader of Israel: Leader of the nation of Israel involving his leading the Exodus, the journey to Sinai, receiving the Law at Sinai ending in his death. Moses received the 1 st 5 books of the Old Testament canon. He was also the leader of 2 million Jews who left the slavery of Egypt. Moses was a genius in several areas: (1) Music: Ex. 15; Deut. 32 (2) Literary: Wrote the Pentateuch (3) Administrative: Led 2 million Jews for 40 years (4) Military: He delivered the Egyptian 18th Dynasty from the famous Ethiopian invasion after 3 regular armies had been wiped out. (Josephus Antiquities of the Jews Chapter 10, paragraph 1) 2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 2

(5) Architectural: He built the "treasure" cities of Egypt. No other Old Testament figure can compare with Moses. Moses is called in Scripture the servant of the Lord (Nm. 12:7-8; Deut. 34:5; Josh. 1:1) and he alone spoke face to face with the Lord. Moses was a man zealous for the Lord (Nm. 16-17) and was described as the meekest man on earth (Nm. 12:3). Moses is a type or little picture or copy of the Lord Jesus in that he was a prophet, priest and king. The Lord Jesus Christ has a 3-fold office: (1) Prophet (Mt. 13:57; 21:11) (2) Priest (Heb. 9:11; 10:21) (3) King (Jn. 18:33-37). According to Deuteronomy 18:15 Moses was a prophet and in Psalm 99:6, Moses is mentioned as a priest, and we know he was king of Jeshurun according to Deuteronomy 33:5 and he was shepherd, judge and leader of the Israelites. But it is as the intercessor that Moses so pre-eminently reminds us of the Lord Jesus Christ, thus, Moses prefigured the one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus (1 Tm. 2:5). Moses interceded for the Israelites when they sinned against the Lord just as the Lord Jesus did at the cross for those who crucified Him. Luke 23:33-34, When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. But Jesus was saying, Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing. And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves. Ps 106:1-23 1 Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting. 2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 3

2 Who can speak of the mighty deeds of the LORD, or can show forth all His praise? 3 How blessed are those who keep justice, who practice righteousness at all times! 4 Remember me, O LORD, in Your favor toward Your people; Visit me with Your salvation, 5 That I may see the prosperity of Your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation, that I may glory with Your inheritance. 6 We have sinned like our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have behaved wickedly. 7 Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders; They did not remember Your abundant kindnesses, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea. 8 Nevertheless He saved them for the sake of His name, that He might make His power known. 9 Thus He rebuked the Red Sea and it dried up, and He led them through the deeps, as through the wilderness. 10 So He saved them from the hand of the one who hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. 11 The waters covered their adversaries; Not one of them was left. 12 Then they believed His words; They sang His praise. 13 They quickly forgot His works; They did not wait for His counsel, 14 But craved intensely in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. 15 So He gave them their request, but sent a wasting disease among them. 16 When they became envious of Moses in the camp, and of Aaron, the holy one of the LORD, 2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 4

17 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and engulfed the company of Abiram. 18 And a fire blazed up in their company; The flame consumed the wicked. 19 They made a calf in Horeb and worshiped a molten image. 20 Thus they exchanged their glory for the image of an ox that eats grass. 21 They forgot God their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt, 22 Wonders in the land of Ham and awesome things by the Red Sea. 23 Therefore He said that He would destroy them, had not Moses His chosen one stood in the breach before Him, to turn away His wrath from destroying them. We must first pick up the story of Moses intercession for Israel at Mount Sinai in Exodus 24:12 for it is here we read where Moses was located while the children of Israel lapsed into idolatry. Ex 24:12-18 12 Now the LORD said to Moses, "Come up to Me on the mountain and remain there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the law and the commandment which I have written for their instruction." 13 So Moses arose with Joshua his servant, and Moses went up to the mountain of God. 14 But to the elders he said, "Wait here for us until we return to you. And behold, Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a legal matter, let him approach them." 15 Then Moses went up to the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 5

16 The glory of the LORD rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; and on the seventh day He called to Moses from the midst of the cloud. 17 And to the eyes of the sons of Israel the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the mountain top. 18 Moses entered the midst of the cloud as he went up to the mountain; and Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights. Exodus 24:19-31 records Moses being instructed by the Lord with regards to Law, which contained the rules for worshipping and serving the Lord. Moses was given the instructions on the building of the Ark of the Covenant, the Tabernacle and its various articles, the Aaronic and Levitical priesthood. While Moses was experiencing a tremendous spiritual victory the people of God were experiencing terrible defeat spiritually. Exodus 32 presents a great disaster as far as the children of Israel are concerned and yet it is here in this chapter we see one of the greatest teachings concerning our God. Also, Exodus 32 presents one of the greatest lessons on intercessory prayer that is found in the Bible as well as one of the greatest prayer warriors in the Bible, namely, Moses. Ex 32:1, Now when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, "Come, make us a god who will go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him. God has repeatedly showed His power, and compassion but the children of Israel soon forgot all about the Lord s tender mercies. Repeatedly in the book of Exodus the Israelites rebelled against God and Moses whom God sent. 2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 6

Their response to God s mercy and compassion and grace and love was complaining, idolatry, rebellion and unbelief. Deut 10:29, Yet they are Your people, even Your inheritance, whom You have brought out by Your great power and Your outstretched arm. Ps 103:1-2, Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits. Deut 4:23-24, So watch yourselves, that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a graven image in the form of anything against which the LORD your God has commanded you. For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. Deut 6:12-15, then watch yourself, that you do not forget the LORD who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall fear only the LORD your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name. You shall not follow other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who surround you, for the LORD your God in the midst of you is a jealous God; otherwise the anger of the LORD your God will be kindled against you, and He will wipe you off the face of the earth. Ex 32:1, Now when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, "Come, make us a god who will go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him. Assembled about Aaron, means that the Israelites assembled themselves against Aaron for the purpose of being against Aaron. The mob is commanding Aaron to get up and make them a god to lead them in battle thus indicating that Aaron was either sitting down or lying down when they came to his tent. The fact that the people of Israel assembled themselves against Aaron in a bad sense and ordered Aaron to do something for them indicates that Aaron was facing an angry, crazy mob of people. 2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 7

This angry, crazy mob appears again when the spies came back with a false report about the land of Canaan and the people wept in Numbers 14 and in the Korah, Dathan and Abiram rebellion in Numbers 16 and in Numbers 20 when Miriam died. It is understandable that Aaron gave in to the angry mob and did what they commanded him but this does not mean that what he did was right. Aaron should have done what Moses did in Numbers 16:4 and fell on his face in prayer to God for help. Aaron lacked courage because he lacked faith in God at this time. His lack of faith in the Lord is manifested in his failure to pray while during this trouble with the children of Israel. Aaron failed in his role as a spiritual leader of the people because he was arrogant and this arrogance he showed by his failure in obeying the Lord s command to not form idols (Ex. 20:1-6). Exodus 32:1, Now when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, Come, make us a god who will go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him. Will go before us is a military word for leadership in war. Ex 23:23, For My angel will go before you and bring you in to the land of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites and the Jebusites; and I will completely destroy them. Ex 32:34, But go now, lead the people where I told you. Behold, My angel shall go before you; nevertheless in the day when I punish, I will punish them for their sin. Deut 1:30-31, The LORD your God who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf, just as He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, just as a 2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 8

man carries his son, in all the way which you have walked until you came to this place. The mob is demanding that an idol be made to lead them into battle and is thus an expression that is used with reference to military leadership. The Israelites were thinking that if they cannot look to Moses to lead them to victory, then they will have a god who will go before them as they march into Canaan, to possess it. So the people want someone to lead them into battle since they are about to approach Canaan, which they will never enter except their children and Joshua and Caleb and their families. We must remember that Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. This victory was viewed as a military victory over the army of Pharaoh (cf. Exod. 15). The idol, which the Israelites demanded was to serve as the nation s military leader, which would lead them to victory over her enemies. The Israelites had faced the Egyptians and won and they have also been opposed by Amalek at Rephedim (Exod. 17:8-16). They are now facing the conquest of Canaan, which is also a military matter and I believe that the people want a visible symbol, a kind of mascot god, which they can take before them as they proceed on to Canaan. Since Moses was not there to go before them, their idol will be their leader. Exodus 32:2, Aaron said to them, Tear off the gold rings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me. Exodus 32:3, Then all the people tore off the gold rings which were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. Exodus 32:4, He took this from their hand, and fashioned it (the gold) with a graving tool and made it into a molten calf; and they said, These are your gods, O Israel, which brought you up from the land of Egypt. 2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 9

Aaron is making an idol at the request of the mob. Idolatry is the worship of something created as opposed to the worship of the Creator Himself. Idolatry originally meant the worship of idols, or the worship of false gods by means of idols, but came to mean among the Old Testament Hebrews any worship of false gods, whether by images or otherwise or the worship of the Lord through visible symbols (Hos 8:5-6; 10:5). The worship of the calf was repeated throughout Israel s history. Hos 8:1-10 1 Put the trumpet to your lips! Like an eagle the enemy comes against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed My covenant and rebelled against My law. 2 They cry out to Me, "My God, we of Israel know You!" 3 Israel has rejected the good; The enemy will pursue him. 4 They have set up kings, but not by Me; They have appointed princes, but I did not know it. With their silver and gold they have made idols for themselves, that they might be cut off. 5 He has rejected your calf, O Samaria, saying, "My anger burns against them!" How long will they be incapable of innocence? 6 For from Israel is even this! A craftsman made it, so it is not God; Surely the calf of Samaria will be broken to pieces. 7 For they sow the wind and they reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads; It yields no grain. Should it yield, strangers would swallow it up. 8 Israel is swallowed up; They are now among the nations like a vessel in which no one delights. 2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 10

9 For they have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey all alone; Ephraim has hired lovers. 10 Even though they hire allies among the nations, now I will gather them up; And they will begin to diminish because of the burden of the king of princes. In the New Testament idolatry came to mean, not only the giving to any creature or human creation the honor or devotion which belonged to God alone, but putting anything ahead of your relationship with God (1 Cor 10:14; Gal 5:20; Col 3:5; 1 Peter 4:3). 1 Cor 10:14, Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. Gal 5:19-20, Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions. Col 3:5, Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 1 Peter 4:3, For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. 1 John 5:21, Little children, guard yourselves from idols. Ex 32:5, Now when Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation and said, Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD. Exodus 32:6, So the next day they rose early and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. Exodus 32:7, Then the LORD spoke to Moses, Go down at once, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. 2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 11

Exodus 32:8, They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them. They have made for themselves a molten calf, and have worshiped it and have sacrificed to it and said, This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. Exodus 32:9, The LORD said to Moses, I have seen this people, and behold, they are an obstinate people. Exodus 32:10, Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them; and I will make of you a great nation. God s words in verse 7-10 reflect the consequences of sin a separation from God and the threat of judgment. God no longer spoke of Israel as His people, but rather as the people of Moses. Both in what God says and in the way He says it, Israel s sin has put the nation in great danger. God then threatened to annihilate the entire nation, to wipe them out, and to start over, making a new nation of Moses: Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them, and that I may destroy them; and I will make of you a great nation (32:10). These words make for a terrible threat to Israel s future. It looks as though Israel will be wiped out, and, we must say, God would have been wholly just in doing so, at least from the standpoint of the seriousness of Israel s sin. God s words here are intended to convey the great danger, which Israel is now in. But they are also intended to produce something different than destruction, which is not only suggested by the outcome of the story, but is also implied by the words themselves. If God had intended to wipe Israel out, what reason was there for Him to tell Moses about it, and then send Him down to the people? 2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 12

God tells of judgment in advance so as to afford an opportunity for men to repent. 2 Peter 3:9, The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. Furthermore, the words let Me alone, suggest to Moses that if he did not leave God alone, the people would not be destroyed. God is suggesting that if Moses did intercede for Israel, He would likely turn His wrath from His people. Finally, Moses knew that God s threatened action (of destroying Israel) and His offer to Moses (of making a new nation through him) would have not in agreement with His character and His covenant with Israel. The Egyptians would have taken pleasure in the fact that the Israelites were destroyed, which was precisely what they had attempted to do (cf. Exod. 1:8-22). The character of God would have been demeaned, for God would not have kept His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Messiah could not come through Moses, for he was of the tribe of Levi, while Messiah must come through Judah (compare Exodus 2:1-2 with Genesis 49:10). Gen 49:10, The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. Thus, the words which God spoke were intended to get Moses to pray for his people, and thus to bring about forgiveness. Israel failed their test when Moses left them and went up to the mountain to be with God for 40 days and nights, but here Moses love and knowledge of God are being tested. 2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 13

Moses was never nobler, more fervent, or more eloquent than he was here. So the Lord made Moses two offers: (1) He would destroy the idolatrous Israelites who were a pain for Moses (2) He would make out of Moses a entire new nation. He rejected both offers. Moses would not use somebody else s failure to promote his own success. He rejected both offers and asked the Lord to forgive His people and give them another chance. It was quite a test because Israel was constantly complaining and rebelling against the leadership of Moses. This offer must have been tempting but Moses was taught by the Lord to be merciful and compassionate. This appeal to make out of Moses an entire new nation was an appeal to the pride of Moses and would be of any man but Moses rejects the offer. Neither pride or getting back at Israel ruled the heart of Moses, but instead God saw humility and forgiveness. Col 3:12-14, So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. The absence of pride in Moses demonstrated that he was indeed humble. Num 12:3, (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth.). Humility is very important to have as a spiritual leader. 2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 14

Matt 23:11-12, But the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. James 4:6, But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. Exodus 32:9, The LORD said to Moses, I have seen this people, and behold, they are an obstinate people. Exodus 32:10, Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them; and I will make of you a great nation. God had no intention of destroying Israel but rather His will was to forgive and show mercy to Israel even though they rebelled against Him. Moses knew this and simply appealed to the will of God, which was to show mercy and forgiveness. 2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 15

Prairie View Christian Church Pastor Bill Wenstrom First Last 2 Weeks of July Doctrine of Prayer Doctrine of Prayer-Part 14 4 th Important Part of Prayer: Intercession We have been studying the intercessory prayer of Moses for Israel at Mount Sinai after Israel had built a golden calf and God threatened to destroy Israel for her idolatry. Exodus 32:1, Now when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, Come, make us a god who will go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him. Exodus 32:2, Aaron said to them, Tear off the gold rings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me. Exodus 32:3, Then all the people tore off the gold rings which were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. Exodus 32:4, He took this from their hand, and fashioned it (the gold) with a graving tool and made it into a molten calf; and they said, These are your gods, O Israel, which brought you up from the land of Egypt. Ex 32:5, Now when Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation and said, Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD. Exodus 32:6, So the next day they rose early and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. 2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 16

Exodus 32:7, Then the LORD spoke to Moses, Go down at once, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. Exodus 32:8, They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them. They have made for themselves a molten calf, and have worshiped it and have sacrificed to it and said, This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. Exodus 32:9, The LORD said to Moses, I have seen this people, and behold, they are an obstinate people. Exodus 32:10, Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them; and I will make of you a great nation. God had no intention of destroying Israel but rather His will was to forgive and show mercy to Israel even though they rebelled against Him. Moses knew this and simply appealed to the will of God, which was to show mercy and forgiveness. The graciousness of the Lord in forgiving sin and the compassion of the Lord are the glory of God, which the Lord revealed to Moses in Exodus 33 and 34. Ex 33:12-23 12 Then Moses said to the LORD, "See, You say to me, "Bring up this people!' But You Yourself have not let me know whom You will send with me. Moreover, You have said, "I have known you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.' 13 "Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight. Consider too, that this nation is Your people." 14 And He said, "My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest." 15 Then he said to Him, "If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here. 2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 17

16 "For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?" 17 The LORD said to Moses, "I will also do this thing of which you have spoken; for you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name." 18 Then Moses said, "I pray You, show me Your glory!" 19 And He said, "I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion." 20 But He said, "You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!" 21 Then the LORD said, "Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; 22 and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. 23 "Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen." Ex 34:1-9 1 Now the LORD said to Moses, "Cut out for yourself two stone tablets like the former ones, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the former tablets which you shattered. 2 "So be ready by morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to Me on the top of the mountain. 3 "No man is to come up with you, nor let any man be seen anywhere on the mountain; even the flocks and the herds may not graze in front of that mountain." 2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 18

4 So he cut out two stone tablets like the former ones, and Moses rose up early in the morning and went up to Mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and he took two stone tablets in his hand. 5 The LORD descended in the cloud and stood there with him as he called upon the name of the LORD. 6 Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; 7 who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations." 8 Moses made haste to bow low toward the earth and worship. 9 He said, "If now I have found favor in Your sight, O Lord, I pray, let the Lord go along in our midst, even though the people are so obstinate, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your own possession." As we have noted prayer must be according to the will of God. 1 John 5:14-15, This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know without a doubt that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know without a doubt that we have the requests, which we have asked from Him. God s will in saving us is to glorify Himself. All our prayers must have as its ultimate objective, the glory of God. The Lord Jesus Christ death on the Cross for the entire human race glorified God because it showed the entire world and the angels the love of God, His forgiveness, His compassion, His mercy towards the entire world. Rom 15:7-9, Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God. For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to 2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 19

the fathers, and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy; as it is written, THEREFORE I WILL GIVE PRAISE TO YOU AMONG THE GENTILES, AND I WILL SING TO YOUR NAME. Ps 86:12-13, I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and will glorify Your name forever. For Your lovingkindness toward me is great, and You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. God s will is to glorify Himself. Thus the intercessory prayer of Moses on behalf of rebellious and idolatrous Israel in Exodus 32 appealed to the will of God. By being slow to execute judgment and being gracious in forgiving Israel s sin and demonstrating unconditional love towards Israel, God s glory would be manifested before Israel, and the entire world. Exodus 32:11, Then Moses entreated the LORD his God, and said, O LORD, why does Your anger burn against Your people whom You have brought out from the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Exodus 32:12, Why should the Egyptians speak, saying, With evil intent He brought them out to kill them in the mountains and to destroy them from the face of the earth? Turn from Your burning anger and change Your mind about doing harm to Your people. Exodus 32:13, Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants to whom You swore by Yourself, and said to them, I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heavens, and all this land of which I have spoken I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever. Exodus 32:14, So the LORD changed His mind about the harm, which He said He would do to His people. Exodus 32:11, Then Moses entreated the LORD his God, and said, O LORD, why does Your anger burn against Your people whom You have brought out from the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 20

Here we see Moses showing his love for Israel by praying for them when they failed. Intercessory prayer for others is an expression of the love of God. The Lord Jesus Christ expressed His love for those who mocked, scourged, vilified and crucified Him by interceding for them before the Father (Lk. 23:33-34). Luke 23:33-34, When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. But Jesus was saying, Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing. And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves. The intercessory prayer of Moses in Exodus 32 demonstrates his divine love for the children of Israel. The intercessory prayer of Moses revealed his deep humility in that his first objective for delivering Israel was the glorification of God. The intercessory prayer of Moses revealed his deep humility in that he put the children of Israel ahead of himself. The intercessory prayer of Moses revealed his deep humility in that it revealed how much Moses knew of the Lord and His ways. The intercessory prayer of Moses revealed his deep humility in that his appeal to the Lord for mercy for the children of Israel revealed that Moses had received instruction from the Lord concerning His character and nature and His ways and was thus a teachable person. Thus, humility is a prerequisite for a productive intercessory prayer ministry. A humble person can pray effectively for others since He knows the Lord and His ways, he puts others ahead of himself and his ultimate objective is the glory of God. Exodus 32:12, Why should the Egyptians speak, saying, With evil intent He brought them out to kill them in the mountains and to destroy them 2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 21

from the face of the earth? Turn from Your burning anger and change Your mind about doing harm to Your people. Exodus 32:13, Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants to whom You swore by Yourself, and said to them, I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heavens, and all this land of which I have spoken I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever. Exodus 32:14, So the LORD changed His mind about the harm, which He said He would do to His people. The phrase the Lord changed His mind in Exodus 32:14 is an anthropopathism, which is a big word, which simply means that in order to teach us a deep spiritual truth is giving Himself a human function that He does not have. God doesn t change His mind but He says He does so that we can understand that when Moses prayed for Israel, He did not destroy them. Mal 3:6, For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed. Heb 13:8, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. The Lord cannot change His mind since the Lord is omniscient and immutable (He never changes) and knew from eternity past that Moses would respond and intercede for the children of Israel and what His decision would be upon receiving this intercessory prayer from Moses. The intercessory prayer of Moses was according to the will of God since his prayer was answered. The intercessory prayer of Moses was answered because it appealed to the glory of God. God s will is to be glorified and He is glorified by extending mercy and forgiveness to those who have disobeyed and rebelled against Him. Thus the intercessory prayer of Moses on behalf of rebellious and idolatrous Israel in Exodus 32 appealed to the will of God since by being slow to judge 2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 22

Israel and being gracious in forgiving Israel s sin and demonstrating unconditional love towards Israel, His glory would be manifested before Israel, and the entire world. Exodus 32:12, Why should the Egyptians speak, saying, With evil intent He brought them out to kill them in the mountains and to destroy them from the face of the earth? Turn from Your burning anger and change Your mind about doing harm to Your people. Exodus 32:13, Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants to whom You swore by Yourself, and said to them, I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heavens, and all this land of which I have spoken I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever. The Lord is not only testing the humility of Moses but also his knowledge of His ways and promises to the nation of Israel. The intercessory prayer of Moses emphasizes the importance of praying according to the Word of God and claiming its promises. Moses is reminding the Lord of His unconditional covenant with Abraham and claiming this promise to Abraham and his descendants that is recorded in Genesis 12:1-3 where the Lord promised Abraham, I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven. A covenant is a contract or an agreement between God and Israel. If the Lord destroys the nation of Israel, then this promise cannot be fulfilled and if this promise cannot be fulfilled then Christ would not be able to come into the world since salvation is from the Jews and thus the Lord would be a liar (Jn. 4:22). Thus, if the Lord destroyed the nation of Israel entirely, He would be denying Himself. 2 Tim 2:13, If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. 2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 23

The Abrahamic covenant was unconditional meaning that it depended solely upon the faithfulness of the Lord and not upon the faithfulness of Abraham or his descendants. Thus, to destroy the nation of Israel because of their unfaithfulness would violate this contract between God and Abraham and his descendants. Moses is not only appealing to the Abrahamic covenant but also the Palestinian covenant, which promised Abraham and his descendants land and is recorded in Genesis 12:7 and 13:15 where the Lord said to Abraham: all this land of which I have spoken I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever. The Lord is also testing the faith of Moses since the circumstances that Moses found himself in were terrible and yet Moses trusted in the Word of the Lord and in particular His unconditional promises to Israel. Faith means we trust God s Word and act on it no matter what the circumstances are or what the consequences may be. The circumstances may be impossible, and the consequences frightening and unknown but we obey God s Word just the same and believe Him to do what is right and what is best. Moses offered up his intercessory prayer in faith in the yet future work on the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ since mercy and forgiveness are extending as a gift to Israel and the entire world on the basis of the Lord Jesus Christ s death on the Cross, which is the satisfaction for every sin in human history-past, present and future. Rom 3:23-26, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed (in the Old Testament dispensations); for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. The Lord is being merciful to Israel by answering Moses prayer to spare her. 2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 24

Ps 86:15, But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth. Deuteronomy 9 also refers to Moses intercessory prayer for mercy on behalf of the children of Israel and gives us more details as to what took place when Moses interceded for Israel. Deut 9:7-21 7 "Remember, do not forget how you provoked the LORD your God to wrath in the wilderness; from the day that you left the land of Egypt until you arrived at this place, you have been rebellious against the LORD. 8 "Even at Horeb you provoked the LORD to wrath, and the LORD was so angry with you that He would have destroyed you. 9 "When I went up to the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant which the LORD had made with you, then I remained on the mountain forty days and nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water. 10 "The LORD gave me the two tablets of stone written by the finger of God; and on them were all the words which the LORD had spoken with you at the mountain from the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly. 11 "It came about at the end of forty days and nights that the LORD gave me the two tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant. 12 "Then the LORD said to me, "Arise, go down from here quickly, for your people whom you brought out of Egypt have acted corruptly. They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them; they have made a molten image for themselves.' 13 "The LORD spoke further to me, saying, "I have seen this people, and indeed, it is a stubborn people. 14 "Let Me alone, that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven; and I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than they.' 2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 25

15 "So I turned and came down from the mountain while the mountain was burning with fire, and the two tablets of the covenant were in my two hands. 16 "And I saw that you had indeed sinned against the LORD your God. You had made for yourselves a molten calf; you had turned aside quickly from the way which the LORD had commanded you. 17 "I took hold of the two tablets and threw them from my hands and smashed them before your eyes. 18 "I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all your sin which you had committed in doing what was evil in the sight of the LORD to provoke Him to anger. 19 "For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure with which the LORD was wrathful against you in order to destroy you, but the LORD listened to me that time also. 20 "The LORD was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him; so I also prayed for Aaron at the same time. 21 "I took your sinful thing, the calf which you had made, and burned it with fire and crushed it, grinding it very small until it was as fine as dust; and I threw its dust into the brook that came down from the mountain. By falling on his face, Moses is expressing his deep humility and worship and reverence for the Lord as he intercedes for the nation of Israel and his brother Aaron. Worship is the bowing of the soul and spirit in deep humility and reverence before Him. Ps 2:11-12, Worship the LORD with reverence and rejoice with trembling. Do homage to the Son that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him! 2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 26

Matthew 26:39, And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will. The fact that Lord Jesus Christ fell on His face was an expression of His deep humility and reverence to the Father as well as His total and complete submission to the Father s will for His life. If the Son of God got down upon His knees, yes, upon His face before God what attitude should we sinners saved by the grace of God assume as we go into the presence of the Father? Heb 5:7, In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. Many times Moses fell on his face in an attempt to intercede for the children of Israel when they rebelled against the Lord. Num 16:3-4, They assembled together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, You have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is in their midst; so why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD? When Moses heard this, he fell on his face. Num 16:43-45, Then Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting, and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them instantly. Then they fell on their faces. Exodus 32 15 Then Moses turned and went down from the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand, tablets which were written on both sides; they were written on one side and the other. 16 The tablets were God's work, and the writing was God's writing engraved on the tablets. 2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 27

17 Now when Joshua heard the sound of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, "There is a sound of war in the camp." 18 But he said, "It is not the sound of the cry of triumph, Nor is it the sound of the cry of defeat; But the sound of singing I hear." 19 It came about, as soon as Moses came near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing; and Moses' anger burned, and he threw the tablets from his hands and shattered them at the foot of the mountain. 20 He took the calf, which they had made and burned it with fire, and ground it to powder, and scattered it over the surface of the water and made the sons of Israel drink it. 21 Then Moses said to Aaron, "What did this people do to you, that you have brought such great sin upon them?" 22 Aaron said, "Do not let the anger of my lord burn; you know the people yourself, that they are prone to evil. 23 "For they said to me, "Make a god for us who will go before us; for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.' 24 "I said to them, "Whoever has any gold, let them tear it off.' So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf." 25 Now when Moses saw that the people were out of control -- for Aaron had let them get out of control to be a derision among their enemies -- 26 then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, "Whoever is for the LORD, come to me." And all the sons of Levi gathered together to him. 27 He said to them, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, "Every man of you put his sword upon his thigh, and go back and forth from gate to gate in the camp, and kill every man his brother, and every man his friend, and every man his neighbor.'" 28 So the sons of Levi did as Moses instructed, and about three thousand men of the people fell that day. 2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 28

29 Then Moses said, "Dedicate yourselves today to the LORD -- for every man has been against his son and against his brother -- in order that He may bestow a blessing upon you today." 30 On the next day Moses said to the people, "You yourselves have committed a great sin; and now I am going up to the LORD, perhaps I can make atonement for your sin." 31 Then Moses returned to the LORD, and said, "Alas, this people has committed a great sin, and they have made a god of gold for themselves. 32 "But now, if You will, forgive their sin -- and if not, please blot me out from Your book which You have written." The Lord is also testing Moses unconditional love for Israel. God is able to love jerks and those with no merit with Him since He loves from His own perfect character and integrity. Thus, the intercessory prayer of Moses reveals that he has learned of God s love and is applying it in Exodus 32:14 since he is willing to sacrifice himself. Moses prefigured the one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus (1 Tm. 2:5) since Moses interceded for the Israelites when they sinned against the Lord just as the Lord Jesus did at the cross for those who crucified Him. The intercessory prayer of Moses on behalf of rebellious and idolatrous Israel and willingness to die for Israel shows us that he is a great shepherd of God s people and in fact is a picture of the Great Shepherd of the sheep, the Lord Jesus Christ. John 10:11-15, I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 29

2004 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 30