“And now, please let the power of the Lord be great as you have promised, saying, ‘The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.’ Please pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt until now.”

Numbers 14:17–19 (ESV)

What can one person do to change the course of events? What can one person do to move the hand of God? Moses was the supreme intercessor who stood in the gap and moved the hand of God when He was ready to kill the people for their disobedience. Once before, after the golden calf incident, and then again when the people failed to go into the Promised Land because of their unbelief, Moses stepped in to turn God’s wrath away from His people.

Moses’ appeal was based on two things:

1. The nations would think that the LORD couldn’t bring His people into the Promised Land, so He killed them in the wilderness.
2. By His own admission, God is longsuffering, merciful and forgiving (Exodus 34:6-7). Therefore, He needed to forgive the people once again.

As a result, God spared the people, although He would not leave them entirely unpunished. The adults twenty years and older who said that God would kill their children would die in the wilderness over the next thirty-eight years. But their children would dwell in the land of Canaan.

I wonder what could happen today if people would stand in the gap to intercede for others. Would it save lives? Would it change the course of history? Would it move the hand of God?

“I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one. So now I will pour out my fury on them, consuming them with the fire of my anger. I will heap on their heads the full penalty for all their sins. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”

Ezekiel 22:30–31 (NLT)

You may never be a political mover and shaker. You may never become rich or famous. But the least saint can have a mighty effect on the present and future world simply by praying in faith according to the will of God. Can you spare 10 minutes to start today?

Thanks for reading. I’m glad you’re here. 😊

Photo by Marcos Paulo Prado on Unsplash