On Advent I, November 30, we looked at Moses' bold prayers:
Exodus 32: 11-13
But Moses implored the Lord his God, and said, ‘O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, “It was with evil intent that he brought them out to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth”? Turn from your fierce wrath; change your mind and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, how you swore to them by your own self, saying to them, “I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it for ever.” ’
Exodus 32: 31-32
So Moses returned to the Lord and said, ‘Alas, this people has sinned a great sin; they have made for themselves gods of gold. But now, if you will only forgive their sin—but if not, blot me out of the book that you have written.
We explored the questions of intercession, of Moses pleading with God to change God's mind and also of his asking God to forgive his people, even after they have made a golden calf and worshiped it. What does intercession mean? Can we ask God to change God's mind--or does intercession mean that our own spirit is more clearly opened, so that we ourselves can move toward fulfilling our role in God's plan, in Salvation History.
We also noted that Moses' pleas are not for himself, not self-centered, but are for a people.
What do our prayers of intercession look like when we pray boldly? We, as God's people, make that connection with God; we do not turn away and worship golden calves when we pray for intercession. What are your questions about this bold prayer?
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