
In Exodus 32 we have one of the low points for the ancient nation of Israel. God had brought them through the Red Sea, yet when Moses took too long on the mountain, they decided to turn and worship a golden calf instead. God wasn’t pleased. In fact, God was ready to destroy them all and tells Moses, “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” (Exodus 32:10 NLT).
But Moses fought for the people. Moses interceded, asking God to turn away from his anger, and reminding God about the Covenant saying, “Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob…” (V13).
It worked! God listened to Moses! “So the Lord changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had threatened to bring on his people” (V14).
Not only do we see God inviting Moses to relationship here, but he relents from judgement because of Moses. This doesn’t mean that God’s nature has changed or that he’s decided that worshiping idols is not a sin—but we see God acting in compassion with people that did not deserve it.
If we don’t fight for people, why are we asking God to?
Likewise, God invites us to pray and “fight” for others. If we have relationship with him, we have access to speak to him on behalf of others just like Moses.
In Luke, just before Jesus tells us to “Ask, Seek, and Find…” he talks about a friend who is bothering another friend at midnight. He says that this friend may not help him because of friendship, but because of his “shameless audacity” (Luke 11:8 NIV).
Jesus is teaching us how to ask and see him. With shameless audacity! Just like this friend. Just like Moses.
Do you pray like this? Do you bring some passion to your prayers? Are you fighting for something? Or are they just words that you repeat or read?
I’m not opposed to routines of prayer or reading/memorizing prayers, but God also wants us to engage him with our hearts and desires. In fact, as we do this it also transforms us. Dr. Ingrid Faro says, “We gain the heart of God when we fight for people. If we don’t fight for people, why are we asking God to?”
Is God waiting on us to pray before he acts?
Many people spend time complaining or ranting on social media. What if we took that passion to God instead and prayed for him to intervene? Here’s a question to consider: Is God waiting on us to pray before he acts? Of course, God can do what he wants, but over and over in the Bible, we see him moved to act by the prayers of his people.
Moses fought for the Israelites and changed the course of history in that moment of intercession. Through prayer we not only have the privilege of friendship with God, but we have an opportunity to make a difference for others—and God invites this! Just like with Moses, God comes close to us and desires that we pray for others. As we do, we get his heart and we just may change the world.
From Peter's Blog: https://peterbales.substack.com.