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"They [the children of Israel] made a calf in Horeb, And worshiped the molded image. Thus they changed their glory into the image of an ox that eats grass. They forgot God their Savior, Who had done great things in Egypt, Wondrous works in the land of Ham, Awesome things by the Red Sea. Therefore He said that He would destroy them, Had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach, To turn away His wrath, lest He destroy them." (Psalm 106.19-23).

A cursory reading of the focus text would indicate to the believer the special relationship that existed between Moses and God. However, today’s message is not so much about that relationship as it is about the role Moses played because of that relationship. In the passage just quoted, the Psalmist declared that God would have destroyed the Israelites "…had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach." The relationship is awesome but the role Moses played because of that relationship is even more amazing! We will explore that role in today’s message.

The breach spoken of is an eternal chasm when it comes to man and God. Man would hope that there would be nothing between him and his Creator. However, sin is the culprit in all cases when it comes to humanity and God. The Israelites fell to the lure of sin, not once or twice or three times but over and over habitually. Moses, on the other hand, was a man of a different character. Sin was not his practice. This certainly did not mean that he did not sin, just that sin was not his habitual practice. Because of that character trait, Moses was able to stand before God. In that position before God, he became intercessor for the Israelites; he was a man standing in the broken down places, interceding on behalf of his countrymen; Moses was a man standing in the breach.

When one considers the role of the prophet, the mental image that is formed by Moses standing in the breach illustrates quite well that role; Holy God wanting fellowship with His creation and unholy man blindly stumbling along committing sin after sin. The prophet stands in the gap; he delivers the word by which the eyes of man can be opened and his steps formed aright. Moses showed the way in that role of a prophet. He delivered the Law to the people and constantly called them to account as regards the Law. Moses’ heart was on God and it was on the people whom he taught. But, his first allegiance was to God! Moses the intercessor was THE model for all times as regards the intercessory role of a prophet.

There is a great moral lesson to be learned from Moses. It is one thing to have a special relationship with those in power and yet another thing to use that relationship for selfless purposes. So many seek places of prominence only to consume the advantages on themselves; not so with Moses nor should it be with the faithful Christian. Greatness isn’t a position one achieves, but an attitude of serving others as a result of the position one achieves!

Questions:

1. Why would Moses choose to stand before God on behalf of his brethren?

2. What traits did Moses possess that would permit him to occupy this favored position?

3. In his role as intercessor, what "heart characteristics" did Moses display?

4. Discuss the definition of greatness given in the final sentence of today’s devotional.

"Word from Scotland" from Sandy Shaw

"Lord God, You Have a Funny Way of Working at Times"