Read Exodus 2-3. What does the text tell you about God? What does it reveal about His character? How is love expressed in the text?
Reread Exodus 2.11-15. Why is Moses angry enough to kill? What might be at the root of his anger? What causes Moses to flee? Where does Moses spend the next 40 years of his life?
Reread Exodus 3.1-10. How does God speak to Moses? Why does God not addresss the murder?
In this section of Scripture, what breaks God’s heart?
The text says, “God is concerned about their suffering.” Do you believe God is still concerned about suffering? Is He concerned about your suffering? How do you sense God doing something about your suffering and about the suffering of His people?
God calls Moses to go back to Egypt, to go back to Pharaoh. God calls Moses to go back to the place of his greatest sin. Why would God call Moses back to the place that is most personal to him?
What or where is a place/space that is most personal to you? How do you engage that place/space? What tempts you to stay away from that place/space? What if God invited you to return to that which is most personal to you? Would you go? What would be His motive in inviting you back?
Reread Exodus 3.13-15. What is Moses’ motive in asking God these questions? What does God’s response say about who He is?
God says He is the I AM. Do a quick study of the life of Jesus noting all the places where Jesus says, “I AM.”
Moses not only does what God asks of him, Moses begins to intercede for God’s people. What does that say about Moses? What does it say about God?
Read Exodus 33.8-11. What is the role of Moses in the text? How do the people of God participate in this prayer? How does God respond?
Read the following passages of Scripture and note the problem that requires intercession. Then, make special note of how God responds to each cry of the heart.
- Exodus 33.8-11
- Exodus 15.23-25
- Numbers 11.1-2
- Exodus 17.8-13
- Exodus 32.11, 14, 31-32
In your own words, describe how God responses to Moses.
Intercession is “entering into the suffering of God’s people.”
Who intercedes on your behalf? Who enters into your suffering before the throne of God?
Read Hebrews 7.24-25. What does this text say about Jesus? What does it say about His love for you? In what ways might Jesus be interceding for you right now?
Spend the next few moments interceding on behalf of others. Use the following prompts as a guide.
Loving God, I hold in your healing presence those who suffer pain and ill health… May they know the deep peace of Christ.
Loving God, I hold in your healing presence those who suffer in mind and spirit… May they know the deep peace of Christ.
Loving God, I hold in your healing presence the suffering people of our world, and the places where people are experiencing hurt and division — including places of hurt and division in my own life… May we know the deep peace of Christ.
Loving God, I hold in your healing presence those experiencing grief and loss….May they know the deep peace of Christ.
Loving God, I hold in your healing presence those who need wisdom for their next steps…May we know the deep peace of Christ.
Loving God, I hold in your healing presence those people and situations that seem broken beyond repair….May we/they know the deep peace of Christ.
Loving God, I hold in your healing presence and peace those whose needs are not known to me but are known by you, and those for whom I have been asked to pray… I name in my heart all those who are close to me… May they know the deep peace of Christ.
Glory to God, from whom all love flows, glory to Jesus, who showed his love through suffering, and glory to the Holy Spirit, who brings light to the darkest places. Amen.
