Question: Have you ever thought about the meaning of intercession? “To intervene on behalf on another” is the meaning of the verb form of intercede.

Understanding intercession is fundamental to a biblical worldview. Why? Because Christ is the Christian’s great intercessor. He is our representative. The whole doctrine of imputation hinges upon Christ as our mediator.

That’s what Paul means when he writes to Timothy, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).

Christ is the Christian’s mediator, his intercessor.

A Glimpse Back at Recalcitrant People: Remember how often Moses interceded on behalf of sinful Israel? Remember how often the crowds complained to Moses that they had it better in bondage in Egypt? Here’s one example:

Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” (Numbers 14:1-4)

Moses as Intercessor:

Yet God was merciful. God was gracious. He had Moses, his intercessor. And Moses’ job, if you will? To petition the Lord on behalf of others.

Listen to Moses’ words:

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)

Encouragement: Do we understand the depths of God’s mercy and grace towards us sinners? God provided Moses as his intercessor on behalf of sinners. It’s a picture of the gospel, folks, where God was doing something through Christ, the ultimate intercessor and mediator, between God the holy and us, the sinners. Intercession is fundamental to a coherent understanding of the biblical narrative of redemption.