INTERCESSION

Today’s Reading: Exodus 32

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).

A long avenue with goat-headed sphinxes leading from the Karnak Temple complex to Luxor Temple, a distance of 1.2 miles (2km). The little figure under the chin of each statue is meant to be Ramesses II. At the time of Moses, the worship of many images, such as a golden calf, was common in Egypt.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where Reynold took the photo, click HERE.

Key Verse: Exodus 32:32

Yet now, if You will forgive their sin, but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written.

Moses heard from God and put His Word into action. Moses prayed and God heard him. The result was God’s judgment and mercy. This chapter records the response of Aaron and the people. Unfortunately, three or four generations later, the people once again practised the worship of other gods. Moses took a stand between God and His people as an intercessor. An intercessor identifies with God and His will, but must also identify with people. In His intercession, our Lord Jesus Christ did not pray, “Blot Me out of Your book,” but He prayed, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Jesus identified with us so completely that He felt abandoned by His Father while He was dying on the Cross. Our sins are forgiven because of Jesus’ intercession.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Almighty God, because of Your Son and my Saviour, I do as Scripture tells me. I “come boldly to the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16), and the result is that I “obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” I pray this for others (use their names or in general) as well as for myself. In Jesus’ Name. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

My Grandfather, Allan Mainse, and his brother, Uncle Ed, had farms next door to each other. I heard them pray in a normal volume at family devotions, but I heard the stories that when they were younger, early in the morning, these brothers would meet at the line fence between their farms and raise their voices in prayer. It’s probably exaggerated, but I’ve been told that they could be heard a country concession away. I believe that their intercessory prayers bless us today. They bless our children, our grandchildren, and our great-grandchildren. Someone asked me a while back, “Can you name all your children, their spouses, and your grandchildren?” I rattled their names off quickly. “How do you do that?” I was asked. My answer was that I pray for them all by name, not rapidly, but slowly with intensity, every morning before any of them awaken.

Yours to urge us all into more fervent intercession,

David