How can we emulate Moses' persistence in prayer from Deuteronomy 10:10? A Snapshot of Deuteronomy 10:10 “I had stayed on the mountain as I did the first time, forty days and forty nights, and the LORD listened to me once again. The LORD was not willing to destroy you.” (Deuteronomy 10:10) What Moses Actually Did • Climbed the mountain again after Israel’s failure with the golden calf • Fasted and prayed forty days and nights—matching his first vigil (Deuteronomy 9:18) • Interceded specifically for people who had sinned terribly (Exodus 32:31-32) • Remained until God’s answer came: “the LORD listened to me once again” Key Marks of His Persistence • Time—extended, uninterrupted seasons with God • Urgency—he knew judgment was imminent • Repetition—returning to the same request until mercy was secured • Self-denial—fasting sharpened his focus (Exodus 34:28) • Confidence—he expected the covenant-keeping God to hear Why God Responded to Moses • Relationship: “The LORD would speak with Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend” (Exodus 33:11) • Alignment with God’s purposes: Moses appealed to God’s promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 32:13) • Love for the people: he was willing to be blotted out for them (Exodus 32:32) • Humility: “Now Moses was a very humble man…” (Numbers 12:3) How We Can Emulate Moses’ Persistence Set Apart Time • Block out extended periods for prayer, beyond quick moments • Guard that time as fiercely as Moses guarded his 40-day retreat Practice Biblical Fasting • Use fasting to underline dependence on God (Matthew 6:16-18) • Let the physical hunger remind you of spiritual urgency Intercede for Others • Pray by name for family, church, community, and nation • Carry their burdens as your own (Galatians 6:2) Repeat Until Release Comes • Return to the same petitions until God grants peace or an answer (Luke 18:1-8) • Keep a journal to trace God’s responses over time Anchor Every Plea in Scripture • Remind God of His own words as Moses did • Pray promises such as 2 Chronicles 7:14 and 1 Timothy 2:4 Pray with Expectant Faith • “The prayer of a righteous man has great power and produces wonderful results.” (James 5:16) • Believe that the Father delights to give good gifts (Matthew 7:11) New-Covenant Encouragements • Jesus taught perseverance: “keep asking… keep seeking… keep knocking.” (Matthew 7:7-8) • Our risen Lord “always lives to intercede” for us (Hebrews 7:25) • We are urged to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) By following these patterns—devoted time, fasting, intercession, scriptural grounding, and unwavering faith—we walk in Moses’ footsteps and discover afresh that “the LORD listened to me once again.” |
    |