Using Moses' Example to Encourage Intercessory Prayer

Moses serves as a profound example of intercessory prayer in the Old Testament, demonstrating persistent and powerful appeals to God on behalf of others ^{[9, 13]}. Intercessory prayer, defined as direct address to God on behalf of another ^[5], is a practice commanded in Scripture for various groups, including kings, ministers, the Church, and all people ^[1].

Moses's role as an intercessor began early in his leadership. For instance, when Pharaoh's stubbornness brought plagues upon Egypt, Moses prayed for their removal, even though it would have been tempting to let the Egyptians suffer the consequences of their king's actions ^[9]. This willingness to plead for those who were causing distress highlights a key aspect of intercessory prayer: compassion for others ^[4].

A particularly striking instance of Moses's intercession occurs after the Israelites worshiped the golden calf. God's anger was kindled, and He threatened to destroy the people and make a great nation from Moses ^{[11, 10]}. In this moment, Moses "began to plead with God in the behalf of this rebellious and ungrateful people" ^[10]. His intercession was so potent that, as one commentary suggests, "even the Omnipotent represents himself as incapable of doing any thing in the way of judgment, unless his creature desisted from praying for mercy!" ^[10]. This account in Exodus 32:11-13, 30-32, along with Numbers 14:13-19, illustrates Moses's consistent role as an advocate for Israel ^[9].

Moses's prayers were not merely requests but often involved a deep sense of identification with the people and a willingness to stand in the gap for them. When a plague began among the assembly, Moses instructed Aaron to take a censer with fire and incense to "put a propitiatory-covering over them" ^[3]. Similarly, he instructed Aaron to offer sacrifices to "put a propitiatory-covering about thyself and about the people" ^[8]. This act of seeking propitiation underscores the seriousness of the situation and the need for divine mercy, which Moses sought through his intercession.

Even when facing his own mortality and the end of his leadership, Moses continued to intercede for the community. When God informed him that he would die, Moses prayed for a successor, demonstrating a concern for the ongoing work of God's kingdom rather than personal ambition ^[12]. This shows that his intercessory spirit extended beyond immediate crises to the long-term spiritual well-being of the Israelites ^[12].

Moses's example encourages believers to engage in intercessory prayer for a wide range of needs and people. The Bible exhorts believers to pray for those in authority, for the sick, for persecutors, and even for enemies ^[1]. Prayer under affliction is also encouraged, with petitions for God's consideration of trouble, His presence, divine comfort, and deliverance from sin and hardship ^[2]. Moses's life illustrates that afflictions can lead individuals to seek God in prayer and can be beneficial in turning people to God ^[6].

The power of Moses's intercession is rooted in the belief that God hears and responds to the prayers of His people. The concept of prayer itself is described as "converse with God" and "the intercourse of the soul with God" ^[5]. Moses's life exemplifies this intimate communication, where he could "draw near to God" ^[5] and plead the case of his people, reminding God of His covenant promises ^[7]. His example serves as a model for persistent, compassionate, and self-sacrificial prayer on behalf of others.

Sources

Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer, Intercessory — Christ set an example of -- Lu 22:32; 23:34; Joh 17:9-24. Commanded -- 1Ti 2:1; Jas 5:14,16. Should be offered up for Kings. -- 1Ti 2:2. All in authority. -- 1Ti 2:2. Ministers. -- 2Co 1:11; Php 1:19. The Church. -- Ps 122:6; Isa 62:6,7. All saints. -- Eph 6:18. All men. -- 1Ti 2:1. Masters. -- Ge 24:12-14. Servants. -- Lu 7:2,3. Children. -- Ge 17:18; Mt 15:22. Friends. -- Job 42:8. Fellow-countrymen. -- Ro 10:1. The sick. -- Jas 5:14. Persecutors. -- Mt 5:44. Enemies among whom we dwell. -- Jer 29:7. Those who envy us. -- Nu 12:13. Those who ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affliction, Prayer Under — Exhortation to -- Jas 5:13. That God would consider our trouble -- 2Ki 19:16; Ne 9:32; Ps 9:13; La 5:1. For the presence and support of God -- Ps 10:1; 102:2. That the Holy Spirit may not be withdrawn -- Ps 51:11. For divine comfort -- Ps 4:6; 119:76. For mitigation of troubles -- Ps 39:12,13. For deliverance -- Ps 25:17,22; 39:10; Isa 64:9-12; Jer 17:14. For pardon and deliverance from sin -- Ps 39:8; 51:1; 79:8. That we may be turned to God -- Ps 80:7; 85:4-6; Jer 31:18. For divine teaching and direction -- Job 34:32; Ps 27:11; 143:10. Fo”
Numbers “Numbers 16:46 (Rotherham) — Then said Moses unto Aaron—Take the censer and place thereon fire, from off the altar, and put incense [thereon], and, going quickly into the assembly, put a propitiatory-covering over them,—for wrath hath gone forth from before Yahweh the plague, hath begun.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Communion With God — Christ set an example of -- Lu 19:41,42. Exhortation to -- Ro 12:15; 1Pe 3:8. Exercise towards The afflicted. -- Job 6:14; Heb 13:3. The chastened. -- Isa 22:4; Jer 9:1. Enemies. -- Ps 35:13. The poor. -- Pr 19:17. The weak. -- 2Co 11:29; Ga 6:2. Saints. -- 1Co 12:25,26. Inseparable from love to God -- 1Jo 3:17; Joh 4:20. Motives to The compassion of God. -- Mt 13:27,33. The sense of our infirmities. -- Heb 5:2. The wicked made to feel, for saints -- Ps 106:46. Promise to those who show -- Pr 19:17; Mt 10:42. Illustrated -- Lu 10:33; 15:20. Exemp”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Prayer — Is converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant, ejaculatory or formal. It is a "beseeching the Lord" (Ex. 32:11); "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1 Sam. 1:15); "praying and crying to heaven" (2 Chr. 32:20); "seeking unto God and making supplication" (Job 8:5); "drawing near to God" (Ps. 73:28); "bowing the knees" (Eph. 3:14). Prayer presupposes a belief in the personality of God, his ability and willingness to hold inter”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflictions Made Beneficial — In promoting the glory of God -- Joh 9:1-3; 11:3,4; 21:18,19. In exhibiting the power and faithfulness of God -- Ps 34:19,20; 2Co 4:8-11. In teaching us the will of God -- Ps 119:71; Isa 26:9; Mic 6:9. In turning us to God -- De 4:30,31; Ne 1:8,9; Ps 78:34; Isa 10:20,21; Ho 2:6,7. In keeping us from again departing from God -- Job 34:31,32; Isa 10:20; Eze 14:10,11. In leading us to seek God in prayer -- Jdj 4:3; Jer 31:18; La 2:17-19; Ho 5:14,15; Jon 2:1. In convincing us of sin -- Job 36:8,9; Ps 119:67; Lu 15:16-18. In leading us to con”
Isaiah “Put me in remembrance. Let us plead together. Declare your case, that you may be justified. -- Isaiah 43:26”
Leviticus “Leviticus 9:7 (Rotherham) — and Moses said unto Aaron—Draw near unto the altar, and offer thy sin-bearer and thine ascending-sacrifice, and put a propitiatory-covering about thyself and about the people,—and offer the oblation of the people and put a propitiatory-covering about them, As Yahweh hath commanded.”
Exodus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Exodus 8:29: 8:29-30 I will pray: Moses was learning the role of intercessor that would be so much a part of his life in future years (see, e.g., 32:11-13, 30-32; Num 14:13-19). It must have been increasingly tempting to let the Egyptians continue to experience the results of their king’s stubbornness, but Moses was willing to plead with God not to leave them in a permanent state of grief and distress.”
Exodus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Exodus 32:10: Now therefore let me alone - Moses had already begun to plead with God in the behalf of this rebellious and ungrateful people; and so powerful was his intercession that even the Omnipotent represents himself as incapable of doing any thing in the way of judgment, unless his creature desisted from praying for mercy! See an instance of the prevalence of fervent intercession in the case of Abraham, Gen 18:23-33, from the model of which the intercession of Moses seems to have been formed.”
Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
Numbers (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Numbers 27:15: Here, I. Moses prays for a successor. When God had told him that he must die, though it appears elsewhere that he solicited for a reprieve for himself (Deu 3:24, Deu 3:25), yet, when this could not be obtained, he begged earnestly that the work of God might be carried on, though he might not have the honour of finishing it. Envious spirits do not love their successors, but Moses was not one of these. We should concern ourselves, both in our prayers and in our endeavours, for the rising generation, that religion may flourish, and the interests of God's kingdom am”
Exodus (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Exodus 33:12: Moses, having returned to the door of the tabernacle, becomes a humble and importunate supplicant there for two very great favours, and as a prince he has power with God, and prevails for both: herein he was a type of Christ the great intercessor, whom the Father heareth always. I. He is very earnest with God for a grant of his presence with Israel in the rest of their march to Canaan, notwithstanding their provocations. The people had by their sin deserved the wrath of God, and for the turning away of that Moses had already prevailed, Exo 32:14. But they had lik”

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