Moses’ Prayer of Intercession:
The Bible is full of prayers prayed by prophets, priests, kings, common men, beggars…people from all walks of like.  They all prayed to Yahweh for themselves, their people, their kingdoms, etc. One of the great prayers in the Bible is found in Exodus 32. Here we see Moses praying for the children of Israel.
Moses had gone up Mt.Sinai where Yahweh had given him the Ten Commandments. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights (Ex.24:18). As he was away for such a long time, the people grew restless and asked Aaron to make the gods (idols) which they could see and worship. Aaron had no courage to face the people and so he made a golden calf which the people started worshipping.
The Lord heard the tumult which the people were making and said to Moses ‘Your people’ have corrupted themselves. The Lord in his righteous anger vowed to destroy the Israelites and make Moses and his house a great nation. Then Moses prayed this great prayer, interceding for the people.

Ex. 32:30-32: “And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin. And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.”
1. The people have sinned a great sin. The children of Israel had committed the unpardonable sin of idol worship. Aaron made them a golden calf and said, ’these be the gods which brought you out of Egypt.’ The people broke two commandments that day by worshipping idols and raising up and having other gods. Moses, as the leader of his people, confessed to Yahweh that they had sinned. He admitted their guilt. How many times we go through life without admitting our sins! Remember Gehazi, the servant of Elisha (2 Ki.5:21-27). He asked for and received silver and garments from Naaman, and hid them in his room but denied this before Elisha. Remember, (2Ch 16:9),’ For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth,’ There is nothing that the Lord cannot see. 1Jn 1:9,’ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

2. The people worshipped idols. In spite of seeing the miracles done by the Lord through the hand of Moses, the people still worshipped idols. Idols, as we all know, are very colorfully made and very attractive. When people look at idols they feel they have something which seems to be a god. But as we know idols are the work of men’s hands, they have all the appearance of man and even more but there is no life in them (Psa.115:4-7). They are false gods and the people who promote them and such false ideas are the false prophets. By worshipping such idols, the Israelites rebelled against Yahweh, His authority, His power and His sovereignty and attributed Yahweh's salvation to idols.

3. Moses interceded for the people. This is the first of the two occasions where Moses interceded for Israel’s sins.  Yahweh was so angry with the people that He even vowed to destroy Israel and make Moses’ hose a great nation. Moses, however, tried to pacify Elohim by saying that they are His people and by destroying them, He would show himself in poor light before other nations. He asked Elohim to reconsider His decision. One of the duties of any minister is to intercede for his flock. Just praying for blessings or miracles or healings is not the only prayer of a minister. He should also confess his people’s sins and ask Elohim to forgive them. We see Moses as a type of Messiah here, praying for his people. Even as he hung on the cross, Messiah prayed to the Father to forgive his accusers. Are we praying also praying to Elohim to forgive our neighbors of their sins?

4. Moses was ready to lose his reward. Elohim told Moses that He would destroy Israel and make Moses’ offspring a great nation. Any other leader would have jumped at this offer! Especially the leaders of today! But Moses had the plan of Yahweh in his mind. “Now leave me alone’ says Elohim. It is almost

as if Elohim is tempting Moses, provoking him to pray? Instead, Moses intercedes for the people in his own way. Forgive them or delete my name from the Book of Life! It is almost as if Moses is telling Yahweh, ‘I will live or die with them, if you punish them, then punish me also.’ We see Messiah in Moses.  Just as Messiah was ready to die for the sins of mankind, Moses was willing to do the same.  He was ready to lose his reward of eternal life for the people. Do we see such a spirit of sacrifice today?

We read in Psalms.106:23, ‘Therefore he 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.’  Elohim puts a hedge around his people so that they are safe (Job.1:10). Sin destroys this hedge, creates a gap in this hedge and it is through this gap or ‘breach’ that satan enters into our life. When Israel sinned, Moses stood in this breach and pleaded to Yahweh to protect his people.
Moses reminded Elohim of his promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Claiming his promises gives us a strong basis for intercession. Isa 55:11,’ So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.’ His promises are true, claim them when you pray.

We often wonder whether we should pray for people who are determined to sin. Should we pray for those against whom Elohim is angry? Our prayers have to overcome our selfishness. When Yahweh told Moses that they were his, Moses’ people, Moses reminded Elohim that they are His people. Remember, all are Yahweh’s children and we have to pray for all of Yahweh’s children.
Prayers can change lives. Prayers can bring success. The promises of Yahweh can be claimed through prayers and will come to pass in our lives. Prayer is a sword to defeat satan and all his evil work. Prayer is a way to be closer to Elohim and feel his presence. Prayer creates a hedge around us and protects us. Prayer is a ladder to reach Yahweh. He hears and answers all our prayers in His time.
Prayers make all the difference. Do you know someone who needs your prayers? Pray for them and ask Yahweh to forgive their sins.

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