May 3

Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the Lord; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin. — Exod 32:30

It was a terrible sin. The people had broken their covenant with God. There was only one hope: Moses would intercede for them. When we break our covenants with God we have the same way – and it is the only way – to get back into God’s favor.

It is pleasant to have friends who will go up into the mount of prayer and plead with God for forgiveness when we have sinned. We never can know what blessings come to us, and what sufferings are averted, through the intersection of our friends. Job offered sacrifices unto God for his children, lest they in their carelessness might have incurred the divine displeasure.

But, precious and valuable to us as are our human mediators, there is something better yet: Jesus Christ ever lives to make intercession for us. When we have sinned, if we turn to Him, He will plead for us and obtain mercy and forgiveness.