In the days when Moshe (Moses) was born in Egypt, the Pharaoh had Hebrew babies thrown into the Nile River. Moshe’s mother put him in a basket made of reeds and tar, and he floated into the arms of Pharaoh’s daughter. She raised him as her own son in Pharaoh’s palace with the riches of her father’s kingdom.
Almost as well-known as Moshe floating down the Nile in a basket is him leading the deliverance of the Hebrews from slavery. Through Moshe Adonai sent plagues to judge the Egyptian gods so that Pharaoh would allow the Hebrews to leave and worship Him.
Even before Moshe was called to deliver Adonai’s people from Egypt, he had the desire to intercede for his Hebrew brothers and sisters. Unfortunately, he didn’t intercede in a righteous way and he had to flee Egypt fearing for his life (Exodus 2:11-15). When he returned 40 years later after an encounter with Adonai in a burning bush, he had a new vision and purpose –– he embraced the plans of Adonai to deliver the Hebrews.
Each time the Israelites sin while in the wilderness, Moshe boldly intercedes for them with Adonai. He reminds Adonai that His Holy Name and His reputation among the nations is at stake. He reminds Adonai of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He appeals to Adonai’s mercy and His faithfulness to pardon all of their previous sins. Moshe even tells Adonai that if he cannot forgive their sin, then put the sins upon him and “blot me out of the book which you have written …” (Exodus 32:32). His willingness to bear the sins of Isra’el foreshadow the coming Intercessor, the Messiah.
“I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kinsmen. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I order him. Whoever doesn’t listen to my words, which he will speak in my name, will have to account for himself to me” (Deuteronomy 18:18-19).
Adonai listens to Moshe and reconsiders His judgment because He and Moshe had a very unique relationship. Moshe was a humble man before Adonai, more humble than anyone on earth (Numbers 12:3). He was given Adonai’s memorial name yod-hey-vav-hey, the “I Am that I Am” (Genesis 3:15-16). He was allowed to see the ‘glory’ of Adonai while hidden in the cleft of a rock (Exodus 33:22). Unlike all other prophets, Adonai spoke with Moshe “face to face as a man speaks to his friend” (Exodus 33:11).
Exodus 8:8-10
“Then Pharaoh summoned Moshe and Aharon and said, “Intercede with Adonai to take the frogs away from me and my people, and I will let the people go and sacrifice to Adonai.”
“Moshe said to Pharaoh, “Not only that, but you can have the honor of naming the time when I will pray for you, your servants and your people to be rid of the frogs, both yourselves and your homes, and that they stay only in the river.”
Pharaoh calls Moshe to intercede between him and Adonai. He wants the plague of frogs removed before he will allow the Hebrews to leave his country and go to make sacrifices to Adonai. Moshe accepts the prayer request and gives Pharaoh the honor of determining when he should pray. The Hebrew word for ‘pray’ in this verse is atir and means ‘supplication implying humility in an earnest request.’
Pharaoh is not a humble man, but Moshe is. It is only through the humility of Moshe that the hard-hearted Pharaoh will receive relief from plague of frogs. The only honor Pharaoh as ‘god’ will receive is to determine the timing. The Hebrew word par for ‘honor.’
Pharaoh as the supreme ‘god’ of Egypt is an enemy of Adonai. Yet, Moshe doesn’t tell him that he cannot pray for him or won’t. In Matthew 5:44, Yeshua tells his followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them. Moshe understands quite well Pharaoh’s persecution and hatred for the people of Adonai. He responds according to Yeshua’s command.
“Tomorrow.” Moshe said, “It will be as you have said, and from this you will learn that Adonai our Adonai has no equal.”
Numbers 21:7-8
“The people came to Moshe and said, ‘We sinned by speaking against Adonai and against you. Pray to Adonai that he rid us of these snakes.’” Moshe prayed for the people, and Adonai answered Moshe: “Make a poisonous snake and put it on a pole. When anyone who has been bitten sees it, he will live.”
While wandering in the wilderness, the Israelites complained against Adonai and Moshe about leaving Egypt. They believed they had no food, no water, and tired of eating manna day after day. This mixed multitude of Egyptians and Hebrews who came out of Egypt and became the nation of Isra’el had become thankless for the divine provisions they received.
Adonai sent poisonous snakes to bite them and many died. Only after they realized the error of their complaining did they come to Moshe and acknowledge their sin against Adonai, their Provider. The Hebrew word for ‘serpent’ in this verse is seraph and means ‘fiery serpent.’ Seraphim or ‘fiery serpents’ stand above the throne of Adonai and cry out “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD Adonai of Hosts, the whole earth is filled with His glory” (Isaiah 6:1-2).
Moshe intercedes between the people and Adonai. Moshe’s prayer to rid the Israelites of the ‘fiery serpents’ is answered. Adonai commands him to make a bronze snake and place it on a pole. By looking up at the bronze serpent, a representation of the glory of Adonai, and admitting the ugliness of their sin, they would not die.
Moshe prayed for Isra’el and Adonai showed them how “the wages of sin bring death.” In order to live, every person must acknowledge their sin and look up to the Intercessor who takes that sin away.
“Just as Moshe lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up …” (John 3:14).
Deuteronomy 9:26-27
“I prayed to Adonai; I said, ‘Adonai Elohim! Don’t destroy your people, your inheritance! You redeemed them through your greatness, you brought them out of Egypt with a strong hand! Remember your servants Avraham, Yitz’chak and Ya‘akov! Don’t focus on the stubbornness of this people, or on their wickedness or on their sin.”
Moshe prays to Adonai or in Hebrew, yod-hey-vav-hey, the memorial name of Adonai. Elohim translates to ‘gods.’ It is always important to know to whom you are praying and directing your prayers. There are many ‘gods,’ but only one yod-hey-vav-hey, the ‘I Am that I Am.’
Moshe includes the patriarchs in his prayer. He calls them servants of Adonai because He is the Adonai Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He asks Adonai not focus on the stubbornness, wickedness or sin of the Israelites. He pleads with Adonai Elohim to remember His covenant promise to the patriarchs to make Isra’el as numerous as the stars in the sky and sands in the sea. In His greatness or godel, Adonai Elohim brought His people out of Egypt with a strong, powerful and mighty hand –– chazek in Hebrew.
Moshe reminds Adonai Elohim that He redeemed His people for His own inheritance. ‘Redeem’ in Hebrew is ga’al and means to ‘buy back.’ Hundreds of years earlier, Joseph had been sold into slavery by his brothers. During the years of famine, Jacob brought his family into Egypt. Over time new Pharaohs ruled Egypt who did not know Joseph. They turned the descendants of Jacob into slaves. In this way the children of Isra’el were sold into slavery and had to be bought back through the “mighty Hand of Adonai.”
“You were bought at a price, so do not become slaves of other human beings” (1 Corinthians 7:23).
The redemption process began with Adonai’s ten plagues that judged Egypt’s plethora of gods. The Passover became the last judgment and those Adonai redeemed through the blood of the lamb became His inheritance or nachalah meaning ‘possession’ and ‘property.’
“Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine …” (Exodus 19:5).
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