“Seeking God’s Favor” Exodus 32:1-14
In this section of scripture, Moses ascends Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments and while he was experiencing spiritual triumph with God, the people of God plummeted to a low point spiritually.
Israel’s blatant sin in the face of God’s goodness parallels the spiritual condition of America today. While Moses was in God’s presence on the mountain receiving his Law, the people turned to sexual debauchery and idolatry as they tired of waiting for Moses’ return. God’s anger burned so fiercely that if Moses had not been there to act as the nation’s intercessor, God would have unleashed His righteous anger on his people.
Moses’ prayer of intercession for Israel (v-11) is both a sobering and a hopeful lesson for us. He placed himself between a sinful nation and a justly angry God. Here, he pled for God’s mercy – based not on what that nation deserved, but on the character of God.
We need to look at the content of Moses’ prayer. He asked God to repent from his planned judgment: so that the Egyptians would not be able to impugn God’s character and also because of the promises God had made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
In other words, Moses reminded God of His character and his word. We have that same authority and privilege in prayer today. The power of Moses’ intercession is attested in a remarkable statement found in verse 14, “And the Lord repented” (changed His mind). Rather than quibble over our theological differences of this statement, let’s agree that God allowed Moses’ plea to execute a new plan.
In this important and critical season in America, God is looking for intercessors to “stand in the gap” praying for mercy – based not on what we deserve as a nation, but on the character of God.
Too often, like Moses on the mountain, we sit in our church buildings enjoying God’s presence, oblivious or indifferent that the world outside of the building has turned to sexual debauchery and idolatry. God’s judgment must come! God’s judgment will come! Intercessors ‘Seek God’s Favor’ for an extension of mercy and they plead for time to share the good news of the Gospel! “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” – Romans 5:8. Will you join me as an intercessor? Let’s seek God’s favor for this great nation called, America.
