52 Prayers from the Bible

Intercessory Prayer (Part 2)

Read the context passage: Exodus 32:30-35

³⁰ The following day Moses said to the people, "You have committed a great sin. Now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I will be able to pay for your sin." ³¹ So Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Oh, this people has committed a great sin; they have made for themselves a god of gold. ³² Now if You would only forgive their sin. But if not, please erase me from the book You have written." (Exodus 32:30-32)

1. What was the great sin they committed?
2. How did Moses intend to pay (atone) for their sin?
3. How might it help to understand the previous question by seeing the word for atone used in Genesis 6:14 referring to "pitching" the ark?
4. Was the people’s sin atoned for?
5. If no, why not? If yes, how?
6. How can this story inform our prayers today?

Scripture courtesy of BibleGateway.com. All Scripture text is from the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved. "52 Prayers from the Bible" is Copyright © 2009 by Kevin Binkley and Emmanuel Baptist Church of Rochester, Minnesota.