The following is an excerpt from our daily devotional series Pray Like an Intercessor!

The first time we see Moses intercede for the people is in Exodus 32, after the people had fashioned a golden calf to worship. But this would not be the last time he placed himself between God and a rebellious people. In Numbers 16, there was an attempted coup, as Korah, Dathan, and Abiram tried to usurp the priesthood. Moses falls facedown before the Lord. God was displeased, and He dealt with those three rebels for their rebellion. Afterward, a plague broke out among the people. Moses and Aaron took their censers with incense from the altar and stood up in the assembly, standing literally between the living and the dead, and the plague was stopped (see Numbers 16:46–50).

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Pray for your fellow intercessor.

This is a literal picture of intercession. This is what it means to stand in the gap. Again, the Lord responded to the intercession, the plague was stopped, and the rest of the people were spared. Moses was called the most humble man on the face of the earth, and rightly so. He could have become proud because of the signs and wonders he did. He saw the Lord’s glory and spent time with God on the mountain. God even offered to forget about His plan for the Israelites and begin afresh with only Moses, but Moses set himself directly between God’s wrath and the rebellious people on several occasions. If that isn’t humility, I don’t know what is. Andrew Murray once described humility as being total dependence on God. That’s what intercessors do: We pray big, bold prayers, knowing that we have a big God. We are entirely dependent on Him to do what no human ruler could ever do. Intercession is never for our own sake, but rather for the sake of others. It is never for our own glory, but for the honor and glory of God.

Lord, we come before You in the knowledge that America has been just like those Israelites You brought out of Egypt. We have been stiff-necked and rebellious. You have been so gracious and merciful to us, and yet we, instead of being thankful, only grumble and complain. You have provided for us, and yet we, instead of being content, quickly forget and only ask for more. Like Korah and his clan, we even speak evil of our leadership. We may not worship literal golden calves, but even so we have our own sacred cows. For this, we repent and ask You to forgive us. We are prideful, and pride is the sin that caused Lucifer’s fall. It is also the root cause of many other sins. Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Free me from the stronghold of pride, and help me to cultivate the fruit of the Holy Spirit in my life. Humility is one of those fruits. I want to pray with humility, as Moses did. When I see our nation in turmoil and the failures of Your people, I will fill my censer with incense, which speaks of intercession, and stand in the gap on behalf of Your people and this nation. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward (Hebrews 11:24–26).

In your Bible time, compare Exodus 32 and Numbers 14 as Moses intercedes. Ask the Lord for a fresh revelation of these stories.

Intercessors must possess humility. Moses was called the meekest man on earth (see Numbers 12:3). Meekness is strength under control. Moses could have been arrogant. He was brought up in the house of Pharaoh, a man who was worshiped as a god. Yet he ultimately chose for himself suffering over pleasure. He chose living in the desert over living in a palace. Perhaps this is where God saw the heart of an intercessor. Meekness is a fruit of the Spirit that we must cultivate in our lives. This goes against our natural desires. Our flesh desires to be first, but God asks that we selflessly esteem others better than ourselves (see Philippians 2:3). If you need help in this area, ask God to help you.

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IFA contributing writer Gloria Robles is a passionate intercessor with a prophetic voice for today. For more from Gloria, go to Spotify or Anchor and listen to her podcast, Something To Share. Photo Credit: Olivia Snow on Unsplash.