Intercession – A Key to Our Survival
February 23 Bible Reading: Deuteronomy Chapters 7-9
As Moses reviews the rebellious acts of the Israelites during their wilderness journey, he reveals an important role that he played in their survival. When we read Deut 9:4-6 closely, we can understand that God did not give the Promised Land to the Israelites because of their righteousness for they were a stiff-necked people. The real two reasons why God gave them the land were: (a) to fulfill His word that he had promised to their forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and (b) because of the wickedness of the seven nations whose land they were preparing to occupy (Deut 7:1).
There were many instances that the Israelites provoked the Lord to anger. "Remember. Do not forget how you provoked the Lord your God to wrath in the wilderness. From the day that you departed from the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against the Lord. Also in Horeb you provoked the Lord to wrath, so that the Lord was angry enough with you to have destroyed you" (Deut 9:7-8). The Lord was so angry with the Israelites that He wanted destroy all of them and start a new nation through Moses. This is what God said to Moses: 'I have seen this people, and indeed they are a stiff-necked people. Let Me alone, that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven; and I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than they' (Deut 9:13-14). However, we see Moses interceding and pleading for His people and His brother Aaron time and time again (see Deut 9:18-29). We need to understand that it was only through Moses interceding for the Israelites that their lives were spared many times.
We now have our Lord Jesus Christ seated at the right hand of God the Father, who is greater than Moses, interceding on our behalf in the throne room of God. “…and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12b). "Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God" (Romans 8:27). "It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us" (Romans 8:34). "Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them" (Heb 7:25).