The Beauty and Heartbreak of Intercession

I was re-reading Number 16 recently. I learned in the Intercession and Warfare class at World Revival School of Ministry that Aaron’s actions here are an example of intercession, or “standing in the gap.”

The past year has been an amazing one. I’ve seen life come to children plagued with all sorts of physical and emotional disabilities. I’ve watched God come down to people on the outskirts of the community, shut away in a nursing home. At work, God's healed and brought hope to people I see every day.

I’ve also seen people stay shut in the boxes of their own lives. I’ve watched hope drop to the ground as it’s offered and refused. I’ve listened to people choose the sickness they know over the God they don’t.

What do you do when that happens? I think Numbers 16 offers some insight. God tells Moses and Aaron to separate themselves from the community so He can deal with those who are choosing rebellion and wickedness over God's way. Instead of taking the easy out, Moses tells Aaron to take coals from the altar and stand among the people. He does so, and the plague stops.

But just like not everyone I held out life to grabbed hold of it, Numbers 16:49 says that even though the plague was stopped, 14,7000 died.

That’s the beauty and heartbreak of intercession. It’s not a pretty job. You get in the presence of God and carry it out to the people. Some people will accept it, and you get to see life come to something or someone that was dead. But some will refuse it, and you will be left standing in front of them, watching them die because they refuse to take what’s in your hand.

So what do you do? Do you walk away? Do you give up?

Aaron kept standing there until the plague was stopped. He watched 14,7000 people die – but thousands of others be saved.

Jesus spoke of being the bread that was broken for you – are you willing to be broken, over and over again, to be life in the darkness around you? Your heart may shatter over and over again as you open yourself up to meet someone in their pain, then watch them walk away.

But if I could show you a picture of some of these people I mentioned before and after the intervention of God – it’s worth every heartbreak, every bit of straining, every tear I cried. And you may be surprised by who grabs hold of what you offer.

And every time your heart is broken because someone won’t take it, for all the times you watch people choose death over life, the presence of God will come and heal you, so you can go back out again.

That’s why we need the power and presence of God – not to get goose bumps and fall down; but to keep getting filled back up to feed those who will take what we are offering. God will do it; He will fill us over and over again as we go to pour it back out.

So will you join me? There’s so many broken children, broken adults, broken families – will you make the choice to stand in the gap with me, no matter what the cost? It’s worth it, I promise! And then we can stand together in the presence of God, knowing we aren’t just standing there for ourselves. We are learning to live and love like Aaron and Moses – and like Jesus, our own Intercessor.

p.s. WRSM is in session year-round. Check out the course schedule and make your plans now to enroll. Become what you never dreamed you could be in God!