Read Exodus 32:31, 32. What does this teach us about Moses and prayer?
Moses boldly interceded for God’s people time and time again. Moses turned to God when the people were thirsty (Exod. 15:25, Exod. 17:2–6), when the people were hungry (Num. 11:21, 22), and in sheer desperation (Num. 11:11–15).
When the Israelites built the golden calf immediately after God had covenanted with them, Moses recalled, “ ‘For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure with which the Lord was angry with you, to destroy you. But the Lord listened to me at that time also’ ” (Deut. 9:19, NKJV).
When the spies returned from the Promised Land, Moses recalled, “ ‘Thus I prostrated myself before the Lord; forty days and forty nights I kept prostrating myself, because the Lord had said He would destroy you’ ” (Deut. 9:25, NKJV).
When Levi was separated from the other tribes to serve in the sanctuary, Moses recalled, “ ‘As at the first time, I stayed in the mountain forty days and forty nights; the Lord also heard me at that time, and the Lord chose not to destroy you’ ” (Deut. 10:10, NKJV). God heard Moses’ plea.
We can learn much from Moses’ life when it comes to prayer and holding fast to God:
- Moses had a deep love for God and a clear picture of His character. God described Himself to Moses in Exodus 34:6: “ ‘the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth’ ” (NKJV).
- Moses was both bold and faithful as he held on to God through the ups and downs of the weary journey to the Promised Land. Though struggling as we all do, Moses trusted God’s power, presence, and leading in his own life (Exod. 33:13).
- Moses reminded God of His covenant (Exod. 32:13), claimed God’s promises on behalf of His people (Deut. 7:8), and remembered God’s leading in the past (Deut. 8:2).
- Moses accepted God’s answers to his prayers, whether they were a yes or a no. Being in a close relationship with God doesn’t automatically mean we’ll always get what we want (Deut. 3:23–29), but we should pray with persistence anyway (Luke 18:1–8).
Who needs your intercessory prayers right now? What is stopping you from praying right now?
Supplemental EGW Notes
After the children of Israel had listened at Sinai to the giving of the Ten Commandments, they fell into idolatry, and the Lord was angry with them. He said to Moses, “Let me alone . . . that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.” But no; the man who had learned to seek after the lost sheep in the wilderness, who had endured cold and storm rather than leave one sheep to perish, could not give up the people placed in his care. He pleaded with God not to give them up, but to forgive their transgression. . . .
Moses declared, “If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.” He no longer had any confidence in himself. His watchword was The God of Israel is my Strength and my Leader. He received no adoration as did the kings of other nations. Repeatedly he told the children of Israel that he was only what the God of Israel had made him. In all the battles in which they obtained the victory, he told them that they were not to claim the honor, for it was the God of Israel who gained the victory in their behalf.
When the Lord told Moses, “My presence shall go with thee,” we might think that this mighty man of God would have been satisfied. But he was not. He still urged his petition. “He said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.” Was Moses rebuked for his presumption? . . . He [God] took that mighty man of faith, and put him into a cleft in the rock, and there revealed to him His glory. . . .
When Moses returned to the people, they could not look upon his countenance, for he had been talking with God, and his face reflected the glory of God, which had been revealed to him. “The skin of his face shone.” When talking with the people, he was obliged to cover his face with a veil.
Not the pompous, boastful, unbelieving person, but the humble, faithful one is mighty in the sight of God. In order that He may answer their prayers, the Lord desires His people to obtain an individual experience. The nearer they come to Jesus Christ, the closer their view of His loveliness and life, the more humble will be their opinion of themselves. The lower their estimate of self, the more distinct will be their views of the glory and majesty of God. When individuals claim that they are sanctified and holy, no clearer evidence is needed to show that they are not holy.—Christ Triumphant, p. 116.
The above quotations are taken from Ellen G. White Notes for the Sabbath School Lessons, published by Pacific Press Publishing Association. Used by permission.