Daily Devotion: The Great Intercessor

Scripture:
Exodus 20: 18-26
Main Verses:
Exodus 20: 18-20
18. When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19. and said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die." 20. Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning."

Observation:
Every time the Israelites had a chance to feel God's presence in the past, they always trembled with fear. They have such fear of the Lord that they do not even want God to speak to them. Instead, they asked somebody else to speak to God on their behalf and deliver their message. In the same way, God delivered his message through his messengers. Because God is holy, no one except the people He chose to communicate with him can speak to him directly. God used prophets to deliver his message to people. They were God's messengers. Moses was God's messenger at that time, so the Israelites asked him to let God speak to them through him because they were afraid that they will die. The Israelites knew that they had sinned greatly against God, so they were aware that the moment God speaks to them, they WILL die. They did not say they MIGHT die. 

Let's have a short English lesson here. In English, the modal "will" indicates that the person is sure that something is true or likely to happen. The modal "might," however, expresses an uncertain opinion. In Tagalog, "will" would mean "sigurado" while "might" would mean "baka."  The Israelites did not say "baka mamatay sila" (they might die). They told Moses that "siguradong mamamatay sila" (they will die). That's why they have asked Moses to intercede for them.

Application:
The Lord has sent us His Son Jesus Christ to intercede on our behalf. Moses was a great prophet, the Lord's messenger that brought Israel salvation from the Egyptians. But Moses and Jesus are different. Moses was human, and he sinned against the Lord. Jesus Christ, although He became human, never sinned. Moses is just a prophet, a messenger of God. Jesus is the Son of God. Moses died and never made it to the Promised Land. Jesus died, was buried, and rose again, and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father. Jesus is interceding for all of us on Earth. We can directly come to him, talk to him like a friend, communicate our requests, tell him our burdens. We have a Great Intercessor because we know that whatever prayers and petitions we tell the Lord in the name of Jesus, we know that God will listen to them!

Prayer:
Thank you Lord Jesus that you are our Great Intercessor here on earth. Thank you that we can always come to you, like what you promised in your words that you will do whatever we ask, so that the Father may be glorified in you. AMEN.