Thursday · May 7
Moses Asks God To Save His People
Read Exodus 32:31, 32 . What do these verses teach us about Moses and prayer?
Again and again, Moses goes to God to get help for the Israelites. Moses went to God when the people were thirsty ( Exodus 15:25; Exodus 17:2–6 ) and hungry ( Numbers 11:21, 22 ). Moses went to God when he was upset and didn’t know what else to do ( Numbers 11:11–15 ).
Right after the Israelites accepted God’s Promise, they worshiped the gold cow. Moses later told the people, “ ‘I prayed, because the Lord had said that he would destroy you. He was so angry with you that I was very afraid. But the Lord listened to me this time too’ ” ( Deuteronomy 9:19 , EASY).
When the spies came back from the Promised Land, Moses told the people, “ ‘So I lay down on the ground for those 40 days and nights. I prayed to the Lord because he had said that he would destroy you’ ” ( Deuteronomy 9:25 , EASY).
When God chose Levi to serve Him in His holy tent, Moses told the Israelites, “ ‘I stayed on the mountain for 40 days and nights, as I did the first time. The Lord listened to my prayer. He decided that he would not destroy you’ ” ( Deuteronomy 10:10 , EASY). God heard Moses’ prayer.
We can learn much from Moses about prayer and holding on tight to God:
Moses loved God deeply and understood who He was. God told Moses who He was in Exodus 34:6 : “ ‘I am the Lord! The Lord! I am kind [loving] to people and I forgive them. I do not quickly become angry. My faithful [dependable] love for my people continues for ever, and I am always faithful [can be trusted]’ ” (EASY).
Moses had courage and was loyal to God in hard times. On the way to the Promised Land, Moses trusted God’s power and leading in his own life ( Exodus 33:13 ).
Moses asked God to remember His Promise ( Exodus 32:13 ). Moses asked God to keep His promises to His people ( Deuteronomy 7:8 ). Moses remembered God’s leading in the past ( Deuteronomy 8:2 ).
Moses accepted God’s answers to his prayers. God may not always give us what we want ( Deuteronomy 3:23–29 ). But we always should continue to pray ( Luke 18:1–8 ).
Who needs your prayers? Why not pray for them now?