Of the recorded prayers in the Bible, #11 is in Exodus 32:11-13. While Moses was on the Mount receiving the Law from the living God, Israel was in the valley worshiping a dead idol. The Lord was not happy. He said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people! Now therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them. And I will make of you a great nation” (Ex. 32:9-10). Moses was not pleased either. Nevertheless, he “pleaded” with the Lord, “LORD, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians speak, and say, ‘He brought them out to harm them, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce wrath, and relent from this harm to Your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom You swore by Your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven; and all this land that I have spoken of I give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever’” (Ex. 32:11-13). Notice, Moses did not just ask the Lord to spare them, he gave the Lord three reasons why He should not judge His people: 1) These are Your people, whom You saved with power. 2) If you destroy Your children, the Egyptians will mock You. 3) You made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In short, Moses based his plea on God’s work, God’s reputation, and God’s promise. Instead of just making a request, we should “reason” with the Lord based on His work, His wants, and His Word. It works. “So the LORD relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people” (Ex. 32:14). May you have a good day. Pastor Mike
Posted on: Tue, 16 Jul 2013 13:24:20 +0000