Charles Spurgeon Commentary Numbers 21:6-7

"And Jehovah sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, because we have spoken against Jehovah, and against thee; pray unto Jehovah, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people." — Numbers 21:6-7 (ASV)

Like a true mediator, he was always ready – even when they had most insulted him, and grieved his meek and quiet spirit – still to bow the knee, and intercede with the Lord on their behalf. The people implored him to ask that the serpents might be taken away from them; but, apparently, they still continued to trouble them.

However, if God does not answer prayer in one way, he does in another. The fervent prayer of a righteous man may not prevail in the particular direction in which it is offered, but it availeth much in some direction or other. Just as when the mists ascend they may not fall upon the very spot from which they rose, but they fall somewhere, and true prayer is never lost, it comes back in blessing, if not according to our mind, yet according to another mind that is kinder and wiser than our own.