Day 2: Healing grace
So Moses cried out to the Lord, “Please, God, heal her!” (Numbers 12:13).
Our Father, God of heaven and earth, we praise the name of the Lord, for Your name alone is exalted; Your splendor is above the earth and the heavens (Psalm 148:13). You caused Your glory to pass before Moses, and revealed Yourself as “the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin… (Exodus 34:6-7).
Moses could say, as David later did, I have seen You... and beheld Your power and Your glory (Psalm 63:2). He had seen Your glory, and had heard You proclaim Your compassion and grace, love and faithfulness. But He also heard You proclaim Your justice, holiness and righteousness—heard that [God] does not leave the guilty unpunished (Exodus 34:7).
Yet Moses knew another truth that David would later express—a broken and contrite heart You, God, will not despise (Psalm 51:17). He had experienced Your compassion, Your grace, Your love and Your faithfulness in his own life. He had experienced Your forgiveness for his own wickedness, rebellion and sin (Exodus 2:11-12). Now he strongly interceded for his sister, even though she was guilty of talk against him (Isaiah 58:9, Numbers 12:1-2).
Father, throughout Scripture, You remind us that our sin is ultimately against You. When Miriam talked against Moses, she was talking against You—criticizing the leadership structure You had designed. And the Lord heard this (Numbers 12:2). Yet, You show us that You hear our petitions and intercessions on each other's behalf, even when our carelessness and folly cause us to experience hardship or suffer affliction.
Lord, give us a humble heart like Moses. Give us patience, and give us the love that covers over an offense (Proverbs 17:9). Take us beyond the wounds of anger and hurt. Help us to pray for each other even in all the errors, the disagreements, the misunderstandings, and the misjudgments. By the power of Your Spirit in us, make us channels of Your blessing and Your healing grace.
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