The Jesus Bible Reading Plan / THE NEED FOR ONE TO INTERCEDE

The Jesus Bible Reading Plan

Day 82 of 365 THE NEED FOR ONE TO INTERCEDE After Israel sinned against God by making a golden calf and worshiping it while Moses was in the presence of God on Mount Sinai, God approached Moses to disown his people and begin again with Moses. The book of Deuteronomy intensifies the nature of Israel's sin in the incident with the golden calf by putting it in the context of Israel's recent reception of the Ten Commandments and the saving activity of God who brought them out of bondage in Egypt "with a mighty hand" (v. 26). However, Moses countered God's plan to disassociate from Israel by interceding on their behalf. He pleaded with God to remember his promises to the patriarchs and overlook the people's sin. He also argued that by destroying the people of God's own inheritance, God's saving power and the authenticity of God's love for his treasured possession would be called into question. Just as Moses interceded on behalf of Israel, so also Jesus Christ intercedes on behalf of believers who approach God through him. The salvation Jesus offers through the new covenant is a complete salvation that endures for all time and extends to all of life. Those who place their faith in the finished work of Jesus are saved by virtue of his sinless life, sacrificial death and glorious resurrection. Jesus, I know I could have begged for God's mercy and it wouldn't have made any difference without your gift of the cross. Thank you for interceding on my behalf, so that I could receive God's beautiful mercy. Amen. Deuteronomy 9:25-29 NASB 25 "So I fell down before the L ord the forty days and nights, which I did because the L ord had said He would destroy you. 26 I prayed to the L ord and said, 'O Lord G od , do not destroy Your people, even Your inheritance, whom You have redeemed through Your greatness, whom You have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 27Remember Your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; do not look at the stubbornness of this people or at their wickedness or their sin. 28 Otherwise the land from which You brought us may say, "Because the L ord was not able to bring them into the land which He had promised them and because He hated them He has brought them out to slay them in the wilderness." 29 Yet they are Your people, even Your inheritance, whom You have brought out by Your great power and Your outstretched arm.'