The Power of Prayer

When we reach Exodus 32, Moses is having this pretty incredible experience with God on Mount Sinai. Joshua is up there with Moses but the rest of Israel, who have just made a covenant with God, are getting antsy waiting on Moses. So they ask Aaron to make them a god they can worship and Aaron, who God has told Moses to set apart as his chosen priest, makes Israel a golden calf, ticking God off completely. 

God's pissed. I don't know if he's putting Moses to the test or anger and holy jealously get the better of God because he abandons the idea of Israel as people when he talks with Moses. 

"Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt,have become corrupt. They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’ “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.” (Exodus 32:7-10)

Israel is now Moses' people that Moses brought out of Egypt. God's ready to do away with the and start fresh with Moses. 

But I like Moses boldness. It might not be the boldest prayer from a request standpoint. But given that Moses is on the Mountain with God and God is mad as all get out and ready to kill all of Israel, asking God to remember his promise for these people is pretty ballsy. 

"But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. “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. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’” Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened." (Exodus 32:11-14)

Moses comes before the Lord and petitions for the people of Israel and God hears Moses and turns away from his anger. The people still had to reap the consequences of what they had done but considering God wanted to wipe Israel off the face of the earth...

Be bold when presenting your requests before God. He's listening.