For I wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.  Romans 9:3

This is a hypothetical cry but one made out of great momentary distress.  They were ‘words for the wind’ as Job put it.  Paul knew that it was theologically impossible for Him to make Paul a savior of the Jews.

It wasn’t the first time someone had made a request like that.  Moses did the same thing.  God was angry against His people because, even though He had just delivered them miraculously out of Egypt, they had collected gold throughout the camp and had made a golden calf to worship.  God was going to judge and wipe them out and start a new Jewish nation from Moses’ seed.  He would become a new “Abraham.”  What a promise.  A self-absorbed man might have jumped at the chance.  Moses didn’t.  He pleaded for the lives of his people even if it meant being blotted out of God’s book.

God turned down Moses just as He turned down Paul.  And He will turn me down when I am in such anguish over a loved one that I step in to rescue them.  There is only one Savior, one Deliverer.

 Our prayers of corporate repentance move the heart of God and bring revival and grace to those who don’t deserve it.  When a family bands together to pray for a lost father, or son, God hears and is moved.  But when those same family members rush in to rescue that loved one from the consequences of his choices, that interrupts God’s plan.

Because of my gift of mercy, I have attempted (in my immaturity) to get people out of pain.  If I loved them, I would do anything to see them spared.  I have learned the hard way that I only stood in the way of them coming to the end of themselves.  Pain was their friend, driving them to God and repentance.

God wouldn’t let Moses give his own life for the people.  Jesus did that.  But God did hear Moses’ cry and saved a remnant of the Jews.  He judged the rest; the remnant saw and believed.

God wouldn’t let Paul give his own life for the Jews either.  Jesus did that.  God heard Paul’s prayers and a remnant of Jews came to Christ because of his ministry.

God won’t let me be the savior of my people either.  Jesus is that!  He hears my prayers and moves in the hearts of His chosen ones.  I can be assured that the pain they suffer because of their lifetime of choices will be a saving pain.  God’s arms are ready to embrace them if the heat of His love and correction melts their stubborn rebellion.

Put a check on my gift of mercy, Lord.  Give me the grace of restraint.  Amen