Numbers 14:17, 19 And now I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great. Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.
The people had rebelled against God and sinned by unbelief not believing God could give them the land as He had promised. As a result, they would wander 40 years and this generation would not see the Promised Land. The Lord was angry enough to smite them and make a greater nation out of Moses.
Moses, in pride, could have taken the Lord’s offer to make if him a great nation. Then what would have happened to the promise of a Messiah from the line of Judah? But Moses interceded and prayed for pardon for the people. (God meant for that to happen anyway, but He wanted an intercessor.) Moses responded to the Lord by asking God to use His power and mercy to pardon and forgive. God responded to Moses’ plea and forgave.
Today, all Christians are called to respond as intercessors and plea for pardon for self and others: “As we forgive those who trespass against us.” Yes, we plead for others, asking God to forgive them. This is one way in which believers in Jesus become salt and light. Whether we forgive or pray God to forgive, it’s the same thing: God forgives because of His mercy, which is the blood of Christ.
The outcome of the prayer that the Lord moved Moses to pray? The people were pardoned and restored as God’s people. However, the consequences remained in effect.