so last time we looked at the story of aaron and how God chose him despite the huge mistake that he was going to make. he created a golden calf for the people of israel to “follow” and worship. huge mistake if God has chosen you to lead the people in worship of the one and only true God.
Then the Lord said, “I have seen how stubborn and rebellious these people are. Now leave me alone so my fierce anger can blaze against them, and I will destroy them. Then I will make you, Moses, into a great nation.” (ex. 32:9-10, NLT)
so we see that God is not amused by what has taken place…in fact He’s extremely upset. but the part that i want to focus on is what takes place next.
But Moses tried to pacify the Lord his God… (ex. 32:11, NLT)
moses decides to go to bat for these people and he pleads with God on their behalf. he does this by reminding God of what He has done for His chosen people and of His covenant with Abraham. this didn’t mean that moses approved of what the people had done. NO, he wants God to spare them for His own glory. (and if you have time you can read on in chapter 32 to see how moses handles things once he returns to the people. you will see that he is not happy with them at all.) so what is the result of moses pleading with God…
So the Lord changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had threatened to bring on his people. (ex. 32:14, NLT)
according to this moses was able to change the course of history through pleading to God. one man, talking to God, WOW! now moses had a long standing relationship with God and was chosen by God to lead His people. true. but he was only one man, talking with God, seeking for God to be glorified.
i have been challenged through this to pray more expectantly for God to do what it is i am asking. not because it’s me or because i’ve gotten everything in order in my life and i’m living right. no. because when i pray i am focusing on the Lord being glorified and His will being done.
thank You Lord for hearing our prayers! and not only hearing them, but answering them!
1 response so far ↓
Jen // October 8, 2007 at 10:09 am
We’ve been studying prayer the past 3 weeks at our small group. It has been awesome and life changing! This past week it was on prayer and fasting. I learned alot of new things that I didn’t know about fasting.
Hebrews 4:12-16 have been a huge blessing to me…the power of the Word that Jesus is our high priest, the fact that Jesus was tempted as we are yet, without any sin. He’s faced it all and knows how we feel. The biggest point I see from what you are learning here though in this passage is…
“let us therefore come BOLDLY to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Sounds like Moses had that same boldness. It’s so awesome that we can walk into that throne room boldly knowing that Jesus is sitting there as our High Priest interceding on our behalf on the right side of God the Father. The best person possible is interceding for us…the One who knows how we feel, what our hearts desire is and best of all what His will is for us.