But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. “Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’” Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.
Exodus 32:11-14 NIV (New International Version)
The Lord Relented.
Relent: Strong’s Concordance Hebrew 5162 - To be sorry, moved to pity, have compassion, repent.
Dictionary: Mitigate a harsh intention.
Thesaurus: Change one’s mind.
Yes, the Lord changed His mind.
Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.
Exodus 32:14 (New International Version)
So the Lord changed his mind and spared them.
(The Living Bible)
And God did think twice. He decided not to do the evil he had threatened against his people. (The Message Version)
Then the Lord took pity on his people. He didn’t destroy them as he had said he would.
(New International Reader’s Version)
And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do to his people.
(Revised Standard Version)
And the Lord was pleased (with Moses’ words), (so) that he did not (do) the evil which he spake against his people. (Wycliffe Bible)
So Yahweh turned away from the evil which he said he would do to his people.
(World English Bible)
Due to the intercession of one person a nation was spared.
But Moses interceded with the Lord his God: “Lord, why does Your anger burn against Your people You brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a strong hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘He brought them out with an evil intent to kill them in the mountains and wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from Your great anger and relent concerning this disaster planned for Your people."
Exodus 32:11-12 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
Thus, the Lord relented and showed compassion.
The Lord relented…Exodus 32:14
The Lord considers our prayers! The Creator of the Universe lends His ear to our request! He listens, and in His sovereignty decides the outcome. Ultimately, it is the Lord’s will to whom He will show mercy and compassion.
And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Exodus 33:19 NIV
Ask!
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 1 John 5:14 NIV
God hears our prayers!
I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.
Psalm 40:1NIV
The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer.
Psalm 6:9 NIV
Truly, our intercession speaks to the very heart of God, appealing to the Lord’s compassion.
May we contend in prayer to see the mercy of God released.
Ask again!
Our asking may be the very plea that causes the Lord to relent.
Prayer
Father,
I come before Your throne of grace seeking mercy for the situations I face and the needs of others.
.
Those in need of healing.
Families divided.
Friends who are suffering.
Those that mourn.
Finances needed.
Marriages broken.
Victims of disaster.
The heart of our nation.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done.
I ask again, Lord, have mercy!
And, if God, You do not relent, I will continue to trust in You with all my heart, leaning not on my own understanding. Nonetheless, in faith I ask, Lord have mercy.
Amen
Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. Proverbs 3:5 AMPC
I trust Him with the outcome.
Note: Just before posting this blog, I learned my dear friend passed away last night.
She was a friend to many, nurturing, full of love and wisdom, God's dedicated daughter, industrious, sweet as a honey...a little honey bee. Many interceded for her healing. God did release her from her pain; yet, not how we had hoped.
Remembering a life well lived. Her smile. Her smile beaming with the Father's glory!
Comments