How can we apply Moses' example of intercession in our prayer life? Moses, the Friend Who Spoke Up “Then Moses said to the LORD, ‘Look, You have been telling me, “Lead this people up,” but You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, “I know you by name, and you have found favor in My sight.”’ ” Moses stands in the Tent of Meeting, absolutely convinced that God means what He says. That confidence fuels a bold, honest, persevering conversation with the Lord. His prayer life models the sort of intercession that still moves heaven today. Lessons Moses Hands Us • Confidence in God’s Word – Moses prays on the basis of what God already promised. – Compare 2 Samuel 7:25 and Daniel 9:2–3; both men anchor petitions in Scripture. • Holy Boldness with Reverence – Moses speaks plainly (“Look, You have been telling me…”), yet never flippantly. – Hebrews 4:16 invites the same mix: “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence…” • Identification with the People – He does not separate himself from Israel’s future; it is “this people,” not “those people.” – Paul mirrors this heart in Romans 9:3. • Desire for God’s Presence, Not Just His Gifts – Moses presses, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here” (v. 15). – Psalm 27:4 echoes that longing. • Persistence Until God Answers – Moses keeps talking until the Lord says, “I will do this very thing you have asked” (v. 17). – Jesus commends the same persistence in Luke 18:1–8. How to Intercede Like Moses 1. Open your Bible first. • Note the promise or command you are standing on. • Speak it back to God verbatim; He delights to honor His own Word (Jeremiah 1:12). 2. Come as a child, stay as a priest. • Address the Father with warmth, yet carry the burdens of others on your heart (1 Peter 2:9). 3. Name names. • Moses talks about specific people and specific guidance. • Write a list; call out your family, church, and leaders by name (1 Timothy 2:1–2). 4. Seek God’s face before His hand. • Ask first for a deeper sense of His presence, then for the practical help you need (Psalm 16:11). 5. Keep pressing until clarity comes. • If no answer yet, keep the conversation going; silence is often an invitation to linger (Habakkuk 2:1). Other Passages to Fuel Your Prayers • Numbers 14:13–19—Moses appeals to God’s reputation among the nations. • Deuteronomy 9:18–20—fasting combined with intercession. • 1 Samuel 12:23—Samuel pledges never to sin by ceasing to pray for Israel. • James 5:16–18—Elijah’s earnest prayer “was powerful and effective.” Putting It All Together Today Gather your Bible, a notebook, and a quiet spot. Begin by affirming what God has already spoken. Boldly remind Him of His promises, include yourself among those in need, pursue His presence above all, and stay engaged until He answers. Moses’ pattern still works because the God who invited it has not changed. |
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