Intercessory Prayer and Christ, Holy Week, Part 2

In Numbers 14 we read of Moses being an intercessor, again imperfectly, when the spies return from the promised land and the nation decides that no, they won’t be going into the promised land, and not only that, they start to whine about coming out of Egypt.  We have here an interesting part of the debate of human free will and God’s sovereignty.  They chose to leave, didn’t they?  Why are they blaming Moses and God for their choice?  Of course, staying in Egypt would probably have been a rough go after the ten plagues visited on the country by the Hebrew deity.  Moses attempts to intercede.  On a superficial level in the English it sounds as if Moses is saying it would be a bad PR move for God to punish them all, and that he is flattering God.  Moses’ intercession is partly successful—the rejectors will never see the Promised Land, will never have a homeland on this earth, but their children will, as will the faithful Caleb and Joshua.  

Intercession from a Biblical standpoint seems to mean presenting an argument for grace, forgiveness, and a second chance on the basis of God’s character.   What else would there be as a basis?  Standing against the follies, sin, and rebellion of men and women is love and grace, and intercessors present a defense on that basis, not the potential redemptability, the inherent goodness, or the possible turn for the better on the part of those needing intercession.