Episode Transcript  

One

Moses Interceding with God

Probably all of us have heard the story of the golden calf, how after God had worked wonder after wonder in Egypt, and then wonder after wonder in the desert, after God had chosen the Israelites as His own people, not because they’d earned it, but just because He’d chosen to love them. And after He had given them the Ten Commandments, the richest formula for happiness ever known to any people before the coming of Christ.

After all this, the Israelites, with an almost breathtaking stupidity, built themselves a golden calf and said, “This is our god!” It’s so absurd it’s hard to even imagine… If I were God at this point, I would say, “You know what, I can’t work with these people. Let me just start over.”

And, actually, that is pretty much what God said to Moses. God said, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. Now let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them; but of you I will make a great nation.” (Ex. 32:9-10).

So, God’s saying, “Don’t try to stop me, Moses, I’m going to annihilate this people. And don’t worry, I’ll take care of you – I’ll make a whole new nation, and you’ll be the father of them all.” But Moses pleads with God to have mercy on the Israelites. He says, “I am grieved,' he cried 'this people has committed a grave sin, making themselves a god of gold. Please, Lord, forgive them! But if you will not forgive their sin, I beg you, blot me out from the book of life.”

In other words, Moses is saying, “No, Lord. Spare them. If you destroy them, you might as well destroy me.” Exodus 32:14 tells us, “So Yahweh relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.” And because of Moses’ pleading, because of his prayer for the people, the Lord had mercy on them. (Ex. 32:14).

Two

“Leave me alone, and I will destroy them.”

This story raises some tough questions: like was God really going to do evil to his people? Can God do evil to people? And did Moses really change God’s mind? Can God change His mind? And the answer to both these questions is “No.” God can’t do evil to people. And God can’t change His mind. But… God can leave people to the natural and self-destructive consequences of their own sins. That’s what it means when God “punishes” people, He leaves them to the consequences of their self-destructive activity.

God has built the universe in such a way that our free actions truly matter. When we do good for others, for example, when we pray for them, He uses those acts as real instruments of grace in their lives. It actually helps them. That’s what it means to intercede for someone in prayer. It means we freely cooperate with the way God has united us together, so that His grace can reach others through our love and prayer.

So see how God says, “Leave me alone, Moses, that I may destroy this people.” The implication is, “Moses, hint-hint, if you don’t leave me alone, I won’t destroy this people.” God is showing Moses that prayer can save other people from evil, especially the evil they’ve inflicted on themselves.

So if we actually care about people, even self-destructive people like Moses did, then we know what we need to do.

Three

Don’t Give Up

What God was teaching Moses, he wants to teach us: pray for your people, don’t lose hope, don’t give up! Think of the parable of the guy who has to badger his cranky neighbor to get a loaf of bread for his guest. And think of all the people whose perseverance with Jesus won healings for those dear to them.

Jairus, the father of the little girl who died, the Centurion with the paralyzed servant, or the Father of the boy with epilepsy. Think especially of the Syrophoenician woman. First Jesus ignores her. Then he basically says “no” to her twice, as if He didn’t want to help her. But she persisted, she begged him relentlessly, completely undaunted. And then the Lord was delighted to heal her daughter.

All these cases show the same thing: if we are persistent in prayer, wonders of healing, wonders of grace, wonders of conversion will be possible for those we love.

Four

God is willing to make Himself look indifferent – to get us to pray

Take just a moment, now, and think of how much God must want us to pray for other people. Just think: the God who is Pure Love Itself is willing to make Himself look indifferent, uninterested, or even hostile towards the people we care about. He says, “Look, if this is what it takes to get you to pray persistently for other people, then feel free to think of Me as a cranky neighbor. Or a God who’s just itching to wipe out an entire race. Or a Messiah who doesn’t care about your problems. These would all be blasphemous comparisons if you came up with them, but I’m the one presenting Myself that way. Imagine I don’t care about the people you care about. And then, try to harass Me by your prayer. Don’t give Me a moment’s peace. Don’t get out of My way. Don’t let Me pass on by. Harass Me, tirelessly, with prayers for the people you love. Because that’s the best thing you can do for them. And it will make a difference.”

That’s how powerful our prayers for other people are. That’s how much God wants us to use that power. And that’s why we can’t ever stop.

Five

Who Needs Our Prayers? 

Lent is a time in the desert, and as Christ showed us during His forty days, the time in the desert is a time of prayer. But we’re not just supposed to be praying for ourselves. We’re supposed to be praying for our family member in crisis. For the child or the sibling who has been away from the faith for years. For the friend who has never been well, physically, emotionally, morally, or spiritually. And over the years, we sometimes get tired of praying for the people who need it. After all, it’s been so long, and they’re still where they were.

This Lent, remember the people whom you’ve stopped praying for and recommit to praying for them. Because they still need it. And God has ordained that your persistent, relentless prayers have the power to help them like nothing else can.

So, as a resolution, who do you need to pray for with a greater intention?

If you enjoyed this meditation, subscribe below.