Moses The Mighty Intercessor

11 But Moses sought the favour of the LORD his God. "O LORD," he said, "why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, 'It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. 13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance for ever.'" 14 Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened. Ex 32:11-14


Dutch Sheets in his book on Intercessory Prayer defines it as, “An extension of the ministry of Jesus through His body, the Church, whereby we mediate between God and humanity for the purpose of reconciling the world to Him, or between Satan and humanity for the purpose of enforcing the victory of Calvary.” In other words, we stand in the middle – or in the gap – between the forces of the Supernatural and the world for the benefit of humanity.

Moses was well versed in this type of activity. Four times he interceded on behalf of Pharaoh and the people of Egypt to relieve them from God’s wrath. He stood between the people of Israel and God’s wrath at the rebellion of Korah (Numbers 16:20-22), pleaded for mercy for Miriam in her pride and rebellion (Numbers 12:9-14), sought on behalf of the dispossessed people of Israel to protect them (from Pharoah’s army at the Red Sea), provide for them (manna and water) and guide them (the pillar of fire and cloud of smoke). All of this he did through entreaty to his God.

But perhaps the clearest example of a life lived in close proximity to his God and on behalf of his people is the passage above. Having spent 40 days in the presence of the living God, Moses is now in a position to apply that relationship in hopes that God will show mercy rather than justice to a wilful and disobedient people. He reminds God of His past great love for His people Israel, His promises to them, the extent to which His reputation has been given over to them and His future intentions regarding them. His pleading is successful and, golden calves notwithstanding, the Law is provided once again to God’s people for their edification.

But how do we act as a prayer advocate for others before a Holy God? Ken Gardiner in his book “Standing in the Gap” explains:

“We, today, are God’s people in the world, but we have access to the storehouse of every spiritual blessing in heavenly places. Our intercessory prayer is essential to God. He is only waiting, but He is waiting, for His own to cry to Him and He will open that storehouse and pour out all we seek.

“I constantly use my imagination and I have always pictured myself when I pray, as coming before the throne and facing God, so to speak: looking towards him. This attitude is surely right when we make our confession or bow before Him in adoration, praise and thanksgiving. It also has a place, initially, with regard to intercession. We need to come before Him as we present our petitions and share with Him as we seek to discover His will. However, once we are in a position of understanding what His will is and believing we have received our petition then, to use picture language, we have to turn so that we stand alongside God and face the object of our prayers. From this position we proclaim or command that what we have requested be fulfilled, made real, on earth.”

When our prayer begins to be for others, we begin to take onto ourselves the same attitude that Jesus showed throughout His ministry. He knew what the Father wanted for His people and so Jesus stood before God all the time asking that God would bless and help him bless those around Him. But we do this knowing that as we are praying for others, so Jesus is praying for us at the right hand of the Father and the Holy Spirit is directing our prayers all the while. In this way we become one with the Holy Trinity and God’s Kingdom is built in us and through us.

Mike Clarkson