At times Christians feel a desire to intercede in prayer on someone else’s behalf. There are multiple examples in the Bible of intercessory prayer from godly leaders. When we intercede, we do not come before God asking for worldly desires to be met, but rather we pray according to the character and word of God for those for whom we are interceding.
In Genesis 18:16-33, God reveals His plans for the destruction of Sodom as judgment for their unrepentant sin. Abraham intercedes humbly before God on behalf of the righteous people that may live amongst the wicked in Sodom.
In Exodus 32:9-14, when God tells Moses that He will destroy the Israelite people for their blatant idolatry, Moses intercedes for the people. Moses changes God’s mind on this decision by highlighting how their destruction may impede others from following God. He does not appeal to God in such a way as to say the punishment is inappropriate or harsh or undeserved… because Moses knows the punishment would be just.
Continuing to Exodus 32:30-35, Moses actually intercedes again asking forgiveness of the people’s sin, even at the expense of removing his own name from God’s record. In this case God decides instead to justly erase the names of those who sinned against Him and not to erase Moses’ name. The people were each held accountable for their own sins.
Of course the most obvious example of intercession on behalf of others is Jesus Christ Himself. He took our sins on the cross and died for us. He has interceded on our behalf such that our sins would be forgiven… for those of us who accept His gracious offer. Even as He was dying on the cross He was interceding… asking for God to forgive even those who were persecuting them.
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” [Luke 23:34]
We should strive to listen closely to the Holy Spirit as well as look for guidance in the written word in regards to humbly interceding on someone’s behalf before our holy God. We may not get what we ask for, but God will listen to a righteous prayer from a righteous servant.
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