5 questions concerning intercessory Prayer

Read Deuteronomy 9.

The new land was inhabited.  Some people groups had lived there for hundreds of years.  They would not be easily overtaken just because millions of Israelites moved in.  No.  The inhabitants were strong and able to defend themselves.

Moses reminded the nation of Israel that their victory was assured because of "the LORD your God", not because of them.  Here in advance, he even warned them about taking credit for their success.  Twice, he told them that God was using Israel to destroy the other nations because of the "wickedness of these nations."   Therefore, God alone would get the credit for the timing of this judgment, for the empowerment of Israel, and for keeping His promise to Abraham.

In his continuing history lesson to this second generation, Moses told the story of the rebellion that took place with the golden calf.  "So I lay prostrate before the LORD for these forty days and forty nights, because the LORD had said he would destroy you." (9:25)  Moses interceded for them to God and God listened to Moses.  The nation was spared.

Key elements of intercessory prayer (9:25-29):

1. Time.

Moses was leading a nation of millions of people, but he took nearly six weeks out of his schedule to spend time alone with God.  One of the biggest hindrances to prayer is that we are too busy with our stuff instead of spending time with the Lord.  Question: Am I willing to set aside time for needed intercession?

2. Urgency.

Moses had a discipline of worship with God (Exodus 33:7) but this was different.  This was not his routine.  God was ready to destroy the nation.  Lives and the future were at stake.  Question: Exactly what is the urgency?

3. Specific request.

He asked God not to destroy His people whom He had redeemed.  Many prayers are so general we would not be able to identify the answer when it arrived.  Question: What is it that I want God to do?

4. Based upon God's word.

Moses prayer was not founded upon emotions of potential loss, nor upon his own selfish desires.  In his prayer he asked God to remember His promises and to be merciful to those who had sinned against Him.  The Lord did not need reminding, but Moses needed to say it and have that perspective in his prayer requests.  It is very difficult in times of urgency to look beyond our feelings and pray specifically according to what God has promised.  Question: What has God already said about this?

5. How God would receive glory.

God will receive glory to Himself either way.  Having the Lord's perspective on urgent matters requires that we understand how He works in the lives of people.  His goal is always that individuals come to acknowledge, love and worship Him.  Moses envisions aloud what the pagan nations would say if God destroyed Israel.  Further, Moses expressed how God's fame and power would be seen by sparing Israel instead.  Question: How will God be exalted among the people involved by answering my prayer?