Text: Exodus 32
On one hand, Exodus 32 is quite an uncomfortable chapter to read. Moses has gone to the Mount to commune with God on behalf of the people of Israel. As they wait for his return, they get increasingly restless. Then they begin to forget. They forget God and His works, they forget Whose they are. And so they make a new god, a calf of gold, and they worship it right there in the land God has given them.
I can almost hear the refrain, “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. / Prone to leave the God I love.”*
Oftentimes the needs of others can overwhelm our hearts, much like the darkness in this scripture overwhelmed mine. But, Sisters, we must not despair. For God has cast an eternal light in the darkness and He invites us to make that light brighter through prayer.
Just when it seems the Israelites are once again beyond hope, when it seems they’ve gone so far and so quickly away from God they must deserve whatever comes to them, look at Moses. Watch as he pleads their case before the Lord they abandoned. Watch as he cries for mercy before the presence of God Himself, reminding Him of His promise and boldly asking Him to protect His own glory. And watch as God relents, granting Moses’ request.
Hold the phone. God changes His mind because of prayer? Yes and no. Fully sovereign though He is, the God of heaven invites us to participate in His Kingdom through prayer. He is a personal God, an interactive God, and when His children call He responds. D.A. Carson put it this way: “God has ordained the means as well as the ends, and the means include intercessory prayer – with tears, with persistent perseverance.”
God calls us to pray for one another. He calls us to “stand in the gap” for our Brothers and Sisters (Ezekiel 22:30-31, NIV). I wish I could explain exactly how the whole thing works, how prayer affects change. But as one who has been carried along on more than one occasion by the prayers of the Church, I can tell you that it does. It works. Because He has ordained it so.
Intercessory prayer is less about changing God’s mind and more about participating in His mercy.
I don’t know about you, but when I think about prayer this way, as becoming a vessel to pour out God’s goodness on those I love? That is not an opportunity I am willing to miss.
*Lyrics from Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Robert Robinson, 1757.
Vanessa
Your family is and will be in my prayers. I was a caregiver and I know the pressure that it can cause and the damage. Please make sure your mom takes care of herself! I didn’t and now i have issues of my own to deal with. Again will be praying!!
I believe strongly in the power of intercessory prayer & I am in need of some right now. My grandmother has Parkinson’s disease, and is at a particularly difficult point in its progression right now. She suffers from “spells”, during which she becomes very weak, ill, and anxious. She is currently in hospital, as she seems to do better under close supervision. Throughout all of this, my mother has become her primary caregiver and it it beginning to take its toll. I would greatly appreciate prayers for both of them, as well as for unity and understanding for my entire family.
Thank you all & God bless!
Can someone tell me how to get to the blog?
Thanks
Your commenting on the blog! The website it http://www.shereadstruth.com
Hi ladies its been a while since I’ve posted. I’ve had back surgery and praise God have healed wonderfully. I have been reading the devotions and scriptures and have been blessed. I come today asking for intersessory prayer for me and my children. I’m praying God will bring them together without taking me home. I’m also asking him to deliver me from everything that’s not like him. I like to listen to jazz so I will sometimes go out and listen to friends play in clubs. I know I’m not going to be perfect I just want to please him.
Thanks ladies
I was struck in this reading how Moses prayed an intercessory prayer for the Israelites even though, at that point of the story, he didn’t like them! In verse 32, “But now, please forgive their sin – but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.” If I’m interpreting this verse correctly, Moses is basically saying God, if you don’t forgive them, then don’t make me associate with them either. Moses was furious when he came down from the mountain and witnessed for himself the state the Israelites were in. Yet he prayed for them anyway. Another lesson in loving and forgiving your neighbor…I guess intercessory prayer isn’t just for those people we love and care for…
I totally agree Sara- we are called to pray for all including the lost and lonely.including those we find it really hard to get along with or like. In fact I find I have to pray even harder for them in order for me to reveal Gods love to them no matter how challenging that may be
CandaceJo, thank you for your comments. . . Got of thinking. Bless you. X
Celestial you pm very much for your comments!
Joanna, i think i want to believe the easier to swallow stuff, because can understand, now,about God, in terms of his goodness, love , forgiveness etc. . . To be honest i can.t see my God(now)%as the God of then. . .
I am told, and believe God is a good God, a forgiving God,a God of love. . . .i could get on a soap box. . . But thank you for getting me thinking.
Forgiven,i truly believe our God is a good God, but i just can.t reconcile him to the God who would punish back them. . . .
I understand that God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. . . Thing is when i think of yesterday, i think in terms of my yesterday. . . My parents days or grand parents or even the generation before them. .
Rocknita55 thank you for your message. . I have this overwhelming desire to say to you. . Help me then to see my faithful, loving, kind.., protective etc in the God of the old testament. .
I know this is not about who God was, is. . So i am sorry to be wasting your time sisters, i just struggle with the old testament. . .
God bless you all. X x
Update for Margie and the others who prayed for my friend Bruce. For those of you w ho don't know, he contracted flesh eating disease and has been on life support. He has 3 young children was in ministry serving the Lord at a local church here in Canada.
This is from his wife on Wednesday, Day 19:
"SEDATION VACATION!! OH YA! They turned off his sedation to see what would happen. And he was looking around, mouthing things we didn't understand (anyone out there read lips?), squeezing my hand a bit. He even blew me a kiss! Dr is happy with his progress and all the nurses are commenting on how surprised they are at how well he is doing! I asked him if he wanted to see the kids and he nodded and smiled, and then when I brought them in he was so tired he could barely open his eyes to see them, but it was good for them to get a sense of where dad is and what is going on with him. Overall, today really warmed my heart! Loved seeing my man in there!
Keep praying him off that ventilator! And for those kidneys to function! Things are starting to look promising for my Brucey!"
And from today, Day 21:
"Another great day! Stats wise he's pretty much the same but he was even more alert than yesterday! Woohooo! He was lifting his arms and his legs and trying to sit up (he only got up about an inch off the pillow). They actually had to sedate him because he wouldn't stop trying to move his limbs and everything, it made him breathe heavy because it was hard work and that made the alarm go off on the respirator! Haha! Welcome to Bruce the man who can't sit still!
Still praying him off that ventilator! And the kidney specialist says there has been no real improvement to the Kidneys so let's keep praying about that. Thanks everyone!"