Psalm 106:16-23

We often think of Moses as a great leader and a great legislator and indeed he was; one of the greatest. But have you ever thought of Moses as a great intercessor, a man of prayer? I was amazed to discover how many instances of prayer there are recorded in the life of Moses. Well, when the nation of Israel turned against God and made a golden calf and began to worship like the heathen, God was going to judge them. Moses went up on the mountain and Moses stood in the gap. Listen to Psalm 106 verse 23, “Therefore [God] said that He would destroy them, had not Moses His chosen stood before Him in the breach, to turn away His wrath, lest He should destroy them.”

I think the ministry of intercession is one of the most important ministries that the Christian has. Here is the nation of Israel delivered from Egypt and yet building an idol. Standing at Mount Sinai where the law was being given and yet they built an idol. Oh, how soon we forget what God has done for us. And how soon we forget what God has said to us! And we turn away and we start living on substitutes. You know, Moses could have profited personally from their sin. God said, “Moses, I’ll start with you and make a whole new nation. And no longer will the Jewish nation be the people of Abraham; it’ll be the people of Moses.” Moses said, “No, Lord, you love these people. They are your people. Don’t judge them.” (See Exodus 32.) Well, God did judge their sin but God did not destroy the nation. Alas, the people did not appreciate what Moses had done for them. They began to criticize him as well.

I thank God that today in heaven we have an Intercessor, the Lord Jesus Christ, who ever lives to make intercession for us. He is at the Father’s throne. And He and the Father love us and the Father and the Son together are guiding and building our lives. Are you an intercessor? Are there others who need your prayer support? Let’s follow the example of Moses and stand in the breach.