Repentance vs Intercession

In Exodus 32:10-14, God told Moses He wanted to consume the children of Israel because of their disobedience. However, Moses interceded and asked God to not do it, and God repented. God and Moses had this same conversation a number of times because the Israelites continued to disobey and rebel. Finally, in Numbers 14:22-23, God told Moses that those who rebelled would not see the Promised Land. Consequently, everyone from that generation, except Joshua and Caleb, died in the wilderness. Even Moses could not enter Canaan (Numbers 20:1-12). 

So, in the end Moses’ intercession amounted to nothing. Because they never changed their ways they continued to wander in the wilderness, never crossed over into Canaan, and were eventually consumed. Moses’ mistake was talking to God about the people when he should have been talking to the people about God. There was intercession where there should have been repentance. 

It’s important to know how to respond to God. It can make the difference between life and death.