This article is part 5 in our newest series on intercession. To read part 4, click here.

If you have been praying, you recognize the terminology “standing in the gap.” It is an intercessory phrase. When you do, you stand before God on behalf of someone else. You are putting yourself in another’s place. As we have already read, Esther did it. Abraham did it. Ezekiel did it too, but one is mentioned as interceding multiple times throughout several books of the Torah (the first five books of the Bible): Moses.

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The first occurrence came after they crossed the Red Sea and dwelt in the wilderness. After they grew tired of waiting for Moses, they fashioned a golden calf. After God wanted to pour out his wrath and start over, however, one man intervened…Moses.  

• Moses Intercession:

And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people! Now therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them. And I will make of you a great nation. Then Moses pleaded with the Lord his God, and said: “Lord, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? (Exodus 32:9-11). 

• The Lord’s Response:

So the Lord relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people (Exodus 32:14). 

We can all agree that, when we read these stories, the Israelites were a difficult bunch. More than once, they complained about God and tested Him, and more than once, Moses approached God for them. After telling them to spy the land of Canaan, ten men were overcome with fear and spread a bad report to the people, causing them to reject the promise God had sworn to them (see Numbers 14:11-12). Moses interceded for them and asked for mercy. The Lord was never angry with them for asking. He listened to their pleas and relented.

• Moses Intercession: 

And now, I pray, let the power of my Lord be great, just as You have spoken, saying, ‘The Lord is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.’ Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.” (Numbers 14:17-19). 

• The Lord’s Response: 

Then the Lord said: “I have pardoned, according to your word; but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord— (Numbers 14:20-21). 

Isn’t that a remarkable statement: “I have pardoned according to your word.” The Almighty, the Great I AM, El Elyon, listened to the prayer of one man who was brave enough to humble himself on behalf of all the people. They were guilty of the charges the Lord brought up against them, yet he pardoned (dismissed the claims) them according to the word of Moses. That is the power of intercession. 

In Numbers 16, A Levite named Korah, along with Dathan and Abiram, took it upon themselves to accuse Moses and challenge his leadership, which started a rebellion. Even though they were being falsely accused, they humbly fell before the Lord.

• Moses and Aaron’s Intercession:

Then they fell on their faces and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and You be angry with all the congregation?” (Numbers 16:22). 

• The Lord’s response: 

So the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the congregation, saying, ‘Get away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.’ ” (Numbers 16:23-24). 

After the Lord showed Moses he was chosen, the earth swallowed Korah and consumed the 250 who joined him. Even after seeing the Lord’s judgment against Korah and the others, the congregation gathers to complain and accuse Moses and Aaron of the deaths of the others. This time, the Lord issues judgment, and a plague breaks out against the people. Moses and Aaron fall on their faces before the Lord. Then, Moses tells Aaron to take the censers and make atonement for the people. 

• The Lord’s Response:

Get away from among this congregation so that I may consume them instantly.” Then they fell on their faces. And Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer and put fire in it from the altar, and place incense on it; then bring it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone out from the LORD, the plague has begun!” 

• Aaron’s Intercession: 

Then Aaron took it just as Moses had spoken, and he ran into the midst of the assembly; and behold, the plague had begun among the people. So he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. And he took his stand between the dead and the living, so that the plague was brought to a halt (Numbers 16:45-48). 

Aaron, the High Priest, took the censer used in tabernacle worship and offered holy incense; this was a literal act of intercession. He stood between the living and the dead, making atonement for the people’s sins, while the incense rose before the Lord as a symbol of prayer (Psalm 141:2). He stood in the gap for the people, and the plague stopped.

This not only describes the priestly role of intercession, but also foreshadows the ministry of the Great High Priest Jesus. He made atonement for our sins and is now seated at the right hand of God (Hebrews 10:12), interceding for us.

But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 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 (Hebrews 7:24-25). 

When the Lord Does Not Relent

There were other times that Moses interceded, and the Lord relented beforehand. But in this case, a plague broke out that killed 14,700, aside from Korah and those who followed his rebellion. I believe God can do anything; after all, He is God, and we are not. He can use our intercession to prevent disasters, expose and foil the enemy’s plans, or do whatever He desires. 

However, sometimes things happen that intercession cannot change; Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before the Lord to intercede as they had done before, but this time, the plague still broke out. 

The LORD of Heaven’s Armies has spoken— who can change his plans? When his hand is raised, who can stop him?” (Isaiah 14:27 NLT).

What Aaron did shows us that even after something happens, faithful intercession can lessen its impact. When Aaron took the censer and offered incense, placing himself among those who died from the plague and those still living, the plague ceased. Intercession is always the best response, as is prayer. Pray first, and then take action.

Many other examples show men and women doing the same thing and falling facedown before the Lord and crying mercy. That is the heart of an intercessor. They never relish or enjoy watching a catastrophe. They don’t shrug their shoulders apathetically and say, “That’s what the nation gets.” They know that although God is holy and righteous and will not be mocked, He is also merciful and compassionate, not giving us what we deserve, and does not will that any should perish. 

Intercession in the Bible always points to Jesus the Intercessor, and we are invited to intercede for our leaders, our nation, or anything the Lord may speak to you in your time of prayer. Will you stand in the gap for the nation and for a people who will not always receive the message we are carrying for the Lord?

Father, 

We come humbly before You. What an honor to be a child of God. What a privilege to intercede for others. Because You are a God of both justice and mercy, I ask You to show me how to pray with Your heart, not my human emotions. I want to feel what You feel for the people/nation I am standing in the gap for. Give me humility like Moses, so that I will humble myself on behalf of a nation that is rejecting You and Your values. The kind of humility that will cry mercy when I know atrocities are happening that call for Your judgment. Your Word says we learn righteousness through Your judgment, yet it also says mercy triumphs over judgment. Show us Your ways and how to pray with Your heart; align us with Your will. I know that You can do anything, but thank You for listening to the prayers of Your people who have said yes to the call of an intercessor, in Jesus’ name, amen.

Share your own prayers in the comments below.

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: Ben White on Unsplash.