Through these past couple years, the Lord has been teaching and growing me in intercessory prayer. I have learned so much about how to pray while I was studying the Prophet books. I still have so much to learn and grow in. I remember the Lord convicted my heart and shown me through the Holy Spirit that I was being like Jonah, as I was studying in that book. As I read and prayed, it was revealed that just because I was upset with some people, this didn’t give me the right to stop praying for them. I repented and exclaimed to the Lord that this does not do me well to be angry, and I began to pray for those individuals. My silence for them changed into petitions for God to have mercy and favor on them, and that they do mighty things for the Lord. 

The older kids and I do expository Bible reading in the mornings. We select a book of the Bible to go through, we read a chapter a day, and then I it break down. Some days God stirs and reveals so much, and some days we just read and take it in. Currently, we are in the book of Deuteronomy. As we were reading chapter 9, the Holy Spirit stirred and revealed so many things in this chapter. In this chapter, Moses is reviewing with the Israelites all their rebellion through the years in the wilderness. As we read, we paused first at the verses 4-6:

⁴ “Do not think in your heart, after the Lord your God has cast them out before you, saying, ‘Because of my righteousness the Lord has brought me in to possess this land’; but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is driving them out from before you. ⁵ It is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you go in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord your God drives them out from before you, and that He may ^a]fulfill the word which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. ⁶ Therefore understand that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked^b] people.

I challenged the children to break this down. I asked them, “Why is God destroying these other nations?” They reply, “Because of their wickedness.” I explain to them this included men, women, and children. However, we must understand that God is holy and is just. We must look at the bigger picture, that God used the nation of Israel to bring judgement on sin. If this wickedness was not judged and removed, it would defile God’s people, and they would intermarry and continue with man-made tradition and participate in idolatry. They would turn away from God! (Which we see over and over again in the Scriptures.)

Then I ask them, “Is God using this nation because they are righteous and holy?” They reply, “No.” We see here where Moses begins to remind the Israelites of their short comings. They were used by God not because they were deserving, righteous, or a greater nation. They were used by God because of His will, His plan and purpose, and His promise to the nation’s forefathers. We begin to discuss the truth of justification. Do we deserve salvation? Are used by God because we are such good people? They look at me and say, “Well, no.” We talked about Romans and how we must see that God had a plan to teach us this even back in the Old Testament. That we are not deserving of anything but because God is holy, just, loving, and truthful; He chooses to use us for His great name sake. But it gets better!

Moses continues to tell them of their falling short even after all God has done for them in the wilderness. Moses takes time with the Lord, he fasts and prays for forty days and nights. Then God gave finger imprinted commandments to guide the Israelites on how to live in the way that glorifies God. During this precious time with the Lord, the Israelites were already sinning and turning away from the Lord, by forming a idol to worship. The wrath of God was kindled against them for the continued disobedience and lack of reverence for God.

As the wrath kindled, we pause at the words of the Lord, “I have seen this people, and indeed they are a stiff-necked people.  Let Me alone, that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven; and I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than they.” (verse 13-14) I begin to explain that God was going to destroy these people, and stated that He would start over with Moses. Why do you think God would say this? I explain to them God is all knowing, He already knew these words would be scribed for us to read today. He knew the reply of Moses, a reply that would point to God’s mercy offered when wrath was deserved. With this being, said I asked them, “Do think that Moses had any power to stop God? What does He mean when He says, ‘Let Me alone?'”

Eli said, “No, Moses can not stop God.” I explain to him that is right. As soon as I replied, the Holy Spirit reminded me of the parable of the persistent widow. I smiled and said, “Do you know Jesus had something to say about people who were persistent in asking and praying?” Eli said, “I do not remember this parable.” I began to tell them the Words from Luke 18. That because the widow continued to ask from the judge persistently, the request was finally granted. I explain to them don’t we serve a loving and personable God. That the One and Only God wants us to continue to speak with Him, to ask for things pertaining to ourselves and others, even if He may receive a no! (See the parable in sidebar)

When Moses climbed down from God’s presence and was in front of this sinful and idolatrous nation, the righteous indignation was seen when he destroyed the tablets and the idol. However, Moses turned back around to give himself over in fasting and prayer, yet again in the presence of the Lord (we discuss Jesus fasting and praying in the wilderness in Matthew 4 and Luke 4). The overshadowing presence of the Holy Spirit moved in him to display to us the Christ-type intercession and mercy for these sinful people. WOW! I get excited when I read this, I said to the kids, “Do you not see Jesus already?” What we read in Deuteronomy and what was displayed in Moses, was perfected in Jesus Christ to be able to save the whole world. 

 I asked them, “Would you be able to still intercede and petition for people like this?” They shook their head, and their father listening in the kitchen replies, “It would be hard to.” I tell them it would be hard within ourselves to, but Jesus indwells us and enables us through His grace to give us ability and an honorable opportunity, to do so. I am so thankful for Jesus’ intercession for me, who in nature is a selfish and sinful person. Why wouldn’t we, because we know what it is like to need such intercession, do the same for others?

praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— Eph 6:18

pray without ceasing… -1 Thessalonians 5:17