Moses’ Intercessory Prayer for Israel at Mount Sinai

Like Abraham, Moses is known in Scriptures as a man of great faith.

In fact, Moses is listed in God’s Hall of Fame of Faith in Hebrews 11:24-29.

Exodus 32 presents one of the greatest lessons on intercessory prayer that is found in the Bible, offered by one of the greatest prayer warriors in the Bible, namely, Moses.

Moses, again, interceded for the children of Israel in Exodus 32.

While on Mount Sinai communing with the Lord for forty days and nights and receiving the Law, the children of Israel demonstrated their rebellion by worshipping idols, particularly the golden calf.

While waiting for Moses in Exodus 32, the people of Israel assembled themselves against Aaron as an angry and aggressive mob.

It is understandable that Aaron capitulated to the mob and did what they commanded him, but this does not justify his actions.

Aaron should have done what Moses did in Numbers 16:4, and fall on his face, praying to God for help, however, Aaron lacked courage because he lacked faith at this time.

His lack of faith in the Lord is manifested in his failure to pray while during this adversity with the children of Israel.

In perfect contrast to Moses, Aaron failed in his role as a spiritual leader of the people because he was arrogant to seek a solution independent from God.

Moses was the humblest man on the earth according to Numbers 12:3, and this was the secret to his fantastic intercessory prayer ministry and his effective and productive prayer life.

Exodus 32:1 Now when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, “Come, make us a god who will go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” 2 Aaron said to them, “Tear off the gold rings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” 3 Then all the people tore off the gold rings which were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took this from their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool and made it into a molten calf; and they said, “This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.” 5 Now when Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord.” 6 So the next day they rose early and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. 7 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, “Go down at once, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. 8 They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them. They have made for themselves a molten calf, and have worshiped it and have sacrificed to it and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!’” 9 The Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, they are an obstinate people. 10 Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them; and I will make of you a great nation.” (NASB95)

God’s words in verse 7-10 reflect the consequences of sin—a separation from God and the ominous threat of judgment.

God no longer spoke of Israel as “His” people, but rather as the people of Moses.

Both in what God said and in the way He said it, Israel’s sin had put the nation in great danger.

Exodus 32:10 again records God threatening to annihilate the entire nation of Israel, to wipe them out, and start over, making a new nation of Moses.

These words posed an ominous threat to Israel’s future.

God’s words here were intended to convey the great danger Israel faced.

His words, however, were also intended to produce something apart from destruction, which is suggested by both the outcome of the story and by the words themselves.

If God truly intended to wipe Israel out, what reason was there for Him to tell Moses about it and then send Him down to the people?

God tells of judgment in advance to afford men an opportunity to repent.

Furthermore, the words “let Me alone” suggest to Moses that if he did not leave God alone, the people would not be destroyed.

The inference is that if Moses did intercede for Israel, God would likely turn His wrath from His people.

Finally, as we have already noted with Numbers 14:12, Moses knew that God’s threatened action of destroying Israel, as well as His offer to him of making a new nation through him, was inconsistent with God’s character and His covenant with Israel.

It would be against the plan of God to destroy Israel because of His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Thus, these words were intended to stimulate Moses to intercede for his people and, thus, bring about forgiveness.

As we have noted many times in our study of prayer, prayer must be according to the will of God (1 Jo 5:14).

God’s will in saving us is to glorify Himself.

All our prayers must have this ultimate objective, the glory of God.

Since God’s will is to glorify Himself, the intercessory prayer of Moses on behalf of rebellious and idolatrous Israel in Exodus 32 appealed to the will of God.

By being slow to execute judgment and gracious in forgiving Israel’s sin, God’s glory would be manifested before Israel and the entire world.

Exodus 32:11-14 records Moses pleading with God to withhold judgment upon idolatrous Israel.

Exodus 32:11 Then Moses entreated the LORD his God, and said, “O LORD, why does Your anger burn against Your people whom You have brought out from the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians speak, saying, ‘With evil intent He brought them out to kill them in the mountains and to destroy them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your burning anger and change Your mind about doing harm to Your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants to whom You swore by Yourself, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heavens, and all this land of which I have spoken I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’ 14 So the LORD changed His mind about the harm, which He said He would do to His people.” (NASB95)

To reiterate the principles in Numbers 14:12, Moses’ intercessory prayer revealed his deep humility in that his ultimate objective for delivering Israel was the glorification of God and that he was experiencing an intimate relationship with God.

He knew God’s character and nature and, therefore, petitioned Him with prayers in accordance with His will.

A humble person can pray effectively for others since He knows the Lord and His ways.

True spiritual leaders, like Moses, were willing to identify with and serve the people they led.

For the Lord to destroy Israel and blot out their memory (Deut 9:14) was tantamount to the termination of the Mosaic covenant, recently ratified in Exodus 24:1-8 and confirmed in Deuteronomy 29:18.

The phrase “the Lord changed His mind,” in Exodus 32:14, is an anthropopathism, which ascribes to God a human emotion or function that He does not possess in order to convey His attitude to our finite human minds.

It is language of accommodation since the Lord cannot change His mind, since the Lord is omniscient and immutable and knew in eternity past that Moses would respond and intercede for the children of Israel and God would hear his prayer and answer it according to His will.

The Lord was functioning according to His attribute of mercy, which is the function of His grace policy towards the undeserving or those with no merit with Him, in withholding judgment.

Exodus 32:31 Then Moses returned to the LORD, and said, “Alas, this people has committed a great sin, and they have made a god of gold for themselves. 32 But now, if You will, forgive their sin—and if not, please blot me out from Your book which You have written.” (NASB95)

The intercessory prayer of Moses in Exodus 32 demonstrates his divine love for rebellious and idolatrous Israel since he was willing to sacrifice himself and be separated from the Lord for their sake.

This is another example of how Moses is a type of Christ, for Christ voluntarily separated Himself from the Father for our sake.

The intercessory prayer of Moses on behalf of rebellious and idolatrous Israel and his willingness to sacrifice himself for them sets a fantastic example for pastors when their flock rebels and lapses into idolatry and rebellion and pastors today should pray for wayward members of their flock, not disown them.

Exodus 32:33 The LORD said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book. 34 But go now, lead the people where I told you. Behold, my angel shall go before you; nevertheless in the day when I punish, I will punish them for their sin. 35 Then the LORD smote the people, because of what they did with the calf, which Aaron had made.” (NASB95)

The nation of Israel was judged, but not destroyed.

Moses’ intercessory prayer appealed to God’s glory and was based upon His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and thus prevented the total destruction of the nation.

This intercessory prayer demonstrates the selflessness of Moses and his love for his people, as well as his deep humility and reverence for the Lord.