The Prayer That Changed the History of a Nation
His Word"I have seen these people," the Lord said to Moses, "and they are a stiff-necked people. Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation"
"But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. 'O Lord,' he said, 'why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, 'It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people" (Exodus 32:9-12).
Thoughts
Within days after promising to always obey God's command not to make an idol, the Israelites worshiped the golden calf. This angered God enough to destroy the entire nation. But before He did that "He made his ways known to Moses" (Psalm 103:7).
God confided in Moses what He, as a just God, must do. Sin must be punished by death. I think God revealed His plan to Moses to determine if Moses would pray the prayer that could prevail-the prayer that would change history.
It appears that God would rather show mercy than punish for sins. When God could find an intercessor who prayed for God's name to be honored, He changed directions.
Notice how Moses prayed: "Overlook the stubbornness of this people, their wickedness and their sin. Otherwise, the country from which you brought us will say, 'Because the Lord was not able to take them into the land he had promised them, and because he hated them, he brought them out to put them to death in the desert'" (Deuteronomy 9:28).
Moses' desires were not about personal gain, power, prestige, or his own honor. What concerned him more was the honor of God. He cared more about how God would look to those around them.
God answered Moses' prayer. "I withdrew my judgment against them to protect the honor of my name" (Ezekiel 20:22 New Living Translation).
When we pray for personal concerns, are we most eager for God to receive glory no matter what honor, privilege, or comfort we must release? As we pray for our nation, we must put aside our selfish purposes and be concerned for the honor of God.
When we can say, "God, I'm seeking for what will bring the most glory to You," perhaps God will answer us as He did Moses: "Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened" (Exodus 32:14).
Come to the Fire Prayer Requests
Pray that God will reveal the true desires of our hearts as we pray. Pray that He will help us to be able to care deeply for the honor of God. Pray that all temptations to desire personal gain more than God's glory will be revealed, confessed, and cleansed.
Purify Your Church, O Lord!
Our Father, I pray that you will open our heads to hear You as we search our hearts for Your desire. Lord, I pray that our own personal gain is NOT what we are truly desiring! Reveal this desire if it resides in us. Help us to confess it to You and be cleansed of it! We want Your Glory and Your Honor! In Christ, Amen
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