As a result of the consequences Israel was facing for their sin, they asked Moses to pray for them, “So Moses prayed for the people…”Numbers 21:7
Moses had every reason not to pray for the people.
Moses could have held bitterness in his heart over the events that occurred earlier in Kadesh. While he was responsible for being denied future entry into the promised land, he might have blamed the people. If they hadn’t grumbled about lacking water and accused him of leading them out of Egypt only to die, he could have thought, I would not have lost my temper and struck the rock.He could have let those feelings dictate his actions, refusing to help them further. In addition, they were not only speaking against GOD but also admitting to speaking against Moses. Because of our pride sometimes it’s hard to respond in the way that we should. Our feeling when someone speaks out against us is to not help them but rather when trouble comes, say, “…that’s what you get for opening your mouth.”
However, Moses puts into practice something Jesus would later teach in the Sermon on the Mount.
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:43-45)
Moses prayed for those who had repeatedly accused him of leading them to death, consistently complained and spoke out against him and contributed to him being banned from entering the land to which he was leading them. Yet in spite of all of this, Moses prayed for them.
Moses shows humility and maturity. If we are to be children of our Father in heaven, we must pray for those who speak out against us, and we must pray for those who spitefully use us.

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