Lenny on Exodus 32
Everyone stop what they’re doing and read Lenny’s article on the intercessory work of Moses in Exodus 32. He aptly deals with the issue of the covenant faithfulness of God, the need for an intercessor, and rebuttals the idea that (1) God literally changed His mind and (2) that prayer can change God’s mind.
Thanks for posting that. It answered some questions I had about the power of prayer. That passage was mentined at the first Power Hour (prayer meeting) we had at Real Life, and it didn’t quite fit with the foreknowledge of God. We’ve been spending some time at Real Life this year talking about spiritual disciplines (one of them being prayer) and I was thinking that maybe we in the American church tend to take verses out of context so that somehow our prayers are more important and have power over God’s decisions. Usually it is in the general context of “you should pray more and this is why.” Not that anyone would say that out loud, but that’s what it boils down to. But since God not only knows all that will happen but He also causes it to happen as part of His Plan, how could we as mere members of His creation change that? Especially on the level of destroying the people of Israel, God’s chosen people. So it really was worth it to stop and read that!