It was the first anniversary of their “Passover Celebration” after their exodus from Egypt (Mizraim). They are in the wilderness of Sinai, the Tabernacle has been built, the Aaronic priesthood has been established to offer their sacrifices, but they have a problem.  Some of them have touched dead bodies or been near one and they are defiled and they are not at Numbers 19 yet where they get the, ‘Red Heifer’! So, they don’t have the ashes for purification, and what are they to do? Offer a sacrifice, skip the feast, fast and pray, what?  What they need is an answer from God, so they need a mediator, an intercessor, someone to stand in the gap between them and JeHoVaH.

Job had this problem and his book pre-dates Numbers and seems to have been written around the time of Genesis or there abouts.  He is looking for a ‘Daysman/Mediator’, a ‘Go-Between’ that might lay His hand on man and God,  Job 9:33.  Job’s reply to Eliphaz and his friends in Job  16:21 is, “Oh, that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleads for his neighbor!”  Job longs for that person to be the ‘point man’, to be in the front, to make his case clear, to be his advocate and so are these men.  The problem is you only find the word ‘intercessor’ one time in the Scriptures in Isa. 59:16 and there it is used in a negative way as the LORD states, “He saw there was NO man, and wondered that there was NO intercessor…”  It sounds a lot like Ezk. 22:30, where the LORD says, “I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.”  No not one!  Jeremiah was in Jerusalem at that time, but what value were his prayers for a people who would not repent.  Jer. 11:14; Ps. 66:18.

So they needed an intercessor, someone to plead their case with God and there was only one man they knew of with that kind of experience, Moishe or Moses, because he had done it several times before.  So, Moses says unto them in v.8, “Stand still,’ (amad) ‘come forth and present yourselves before the LORD;’ ” And I will hear” (sha-mah) listen, obey and give heed to; “what the LORD (YeHoVah) will command (tsa-vah), order, command, appoint, ordain, for you to do.”  Moses hadn’t touched a dead body, only these men had, so only they had to follow the LORD’s divine commands, vv. 9-14; and thus we have the institution of (Pesach Shenei) or ‘Little Passover’, celebrated 30 days after the first Passover and still celebrated and observed today.

We have three levels of Intercessors today:

l –  The Son of God, who ever lives to make intercession for us, Heb. 7:25; 9:24; and Ro.8:34.

2 – The Spirit of God, who helps our weakness, inability and want of strength and makes intercessions for us with groanings which cannot be uttered, Ro. 8:26.

3 – The Saints of God – who are to help one another in need, 1 Tim. 2:1; especially in spiritual struggles.

There is a process here for us in 1 Tim. 2:1; Supplications – an entreaty to God of a need or want and in the New Testament times the suppliant carried an olive branch with him as a sign of peace; Prayers (proseuche) is used of prayer in general:  Intercession is to intercede, to go between on behalf of another; lighting upon or meeting with a King or with God for another person or persons because you have the right, the position or the privilege and it is offered in earnestness.  In Heb. 5:7 – Christ offered up “prayers and supplications for us with strong crying and tears.”  Strong (ischuros) – mighty, powerful, forceful, valiant crying (kra-gay) outcry, clamor, scream, shriek, tumult, grief and tears (daku).  I know Christ died for us on Calvary but did you know He cried for you on Golgatha?  This is interceding in earnestness,.  “Father, remove this cup from Me, nevertheless, not my will but thine be done!”  And He suffered hematohidrosis and the capillaries in His flesh burst from stress and grief and blood poured out of His pours; that’s what I call intense intercession.

Prayer is addressed to God the Father Matt 6:6; Through God the Son,  Jn. 16:23;’ By God the Holy Spirit, Ro. 8:26.  In no instance ever in the New Testament are believer’s ever instructed to pray to God the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit lives in and with believers Jn. 14:16-17; we are exhorted to pray at all seasons in the Spirit Eph. 6:18; Jude v. 20; James 5:16, “The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much!”  This could be better translated, “the inwrought supplication, by the Holy Spirit, of a righteous man, greatly prevails (ischuo) W.E. Vine.  There’s that same word that we  have in Heb. 5:7 – supplication with strong crying and tears. Have you ever experienced that kind of praying?

So Moses steps forth to intercede for his people and tells them to, ‘Stand Still’ or “Present Themselves” before JeHoVaH, the (YHVH) the great “I AM” and He will give a command concerning them.  Are you willing to carry the olive branch before YeHoVaH for His people and be a GAP man or woman.  To stand in the breach, to carry the censer, to stay the hand of the judgement of the Almighty?  The nation of Israel only had one intercessor, but praise God we have many, many; and by God’s grace you my friend are one! So, till next time, I’ll see you on our knees or,  “…Between The Lines…”

“Intercession For Little Passover.” Num. 9:8 – 11/11/15